Inspector THE CASEBOOK Andrews Part Two R. J. Palmer

issue two A Red Rose? June 2010 Stewart P. Evans

Jack the Ripper studies, true crime & L.V.P. social history Another Glimpse of Presented by Joseph Chris Phillips Lawende The NOT just usual Suspects! Tom Wescott introduces us to Charles Le Grand THE CASEBOOK The contents of Casebook Examiner No. 2 June 2010 are copyright © 2010 Casebook.org. The authors of signed issue two articles, essays, letters, reviews and June 2010 other items retain the copyright of their respective contributions. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication, except for brief quotations where credit is given, may be repro- Contents: duced, stored in a retrieval system, Friendship Never Ends pg 3 Collectors Corner transmitted or otherwise circulated in any form or by any means, including Subscription Information pg 6 Expert Advice pg 116 digital, electronic, printed, mechani- Another Glimpse of On The Case News From Ripper World pg 118 cal, photocopying, recording or any Joseph Lawende other, without the express written per- Chris Phillips pg 7 On The Case Extra mission of Casebook.org. The unau- Feature Story pg 121 Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect thorized reproduction or circulation of Tom Wescott pg 13 Ultimate Ripperologists’ Tour this publication or any part thereof, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety Liverpool Street to Romford pg 124 whether for monetary gain or not, is & a Voyage to Canada CSI: Whitechapel strictly prohibited and may constitute R. J. Palmer pg 66 Annie Chapman pg 134 copyright infringement as defined in A Red Rose? From the Casebook Archives domestic laws and international agree- Stweart P. Evans pg 90 Ripperologists pg 142 ments and give rise to civil liability and criminal prosecution. Undercover Investigations Scenes of Crime Book Reviews pg 94 Elizabeth Stride pg 144 The views, conclusions and opinions expressed in articles, essays, letters and other items published in Casebook Editor in Chief Don Souden Acknowledgements: Examiner are those of the authors and Publisher Stephen P. Ryder Philip Hutchinson, Suzi Hanney, do not necessarily reflect the views, for Casebook.org Rob Clack and Neal Shelden conclusions and opinions of Casebook. Features Editor Jennifer Shelden for use of images. org, Casebook Examiner or its editors. Design David Pegg Friendship S helden never ends Jenn i fe r hen we launched the was way back in 2004 and since then that one of the few things he remem- Casebook Examiner in we have communicated on a regu- bered speaking to me at the conference WApril, it was the result of lar basis, often sharing the very type was a survey of Ripperologists con- team effort and an enterprise built of information reserved for very close ducted by Don and me, it seemed to me on mutual respect, shared values and friends and yet we have still met only that maybe I had more to thank Don goals. The team at the Examiner is once. When I met Don, at the 2007 for than I or he realised! relatively small, though ever expand- Wolverhampton Conference, we hit Despite the workload that comes ing. We continue to seek out, and it off instantly, proving that on-line along with getting an issue of the delight in receiving, new articles and friendships are as real as any other Examiner together and out, we still ideas from our fellow Ripperologists. and that what holds true in Ripper seem to find endless time to discuss All this under the certain knowledge World also holds true in the real world. nonsense — just as we always have that friendship, respect, shared values Of course, for me all other events at the and just as normal friends do. Don, and understanding, such as between Wolverhampton Conference were over- is of course, an American, whereas our team members, are in fact common shadowed by my meeting my husband, I am a resident of England. This has place in Ripper World. fellow Ripperologist Neal Shelden (yet led to several curious incidents, that Don and I are a typical exam- another example of the real and Ripper made me conclude that English is not ple of a strong Ripperological friend- worlds meeting). Don later told me he a universal language. One went some- ship. Indeed, my first email from Don was not at all surprised when I told him thing like this – “I am addicted to the was the first reply to my very first about my new relationship because he Sugababes at the moment”, “that can’t ‘Inquest’ survey for Ripper Notes (or had already worked out someone was be good for your teeth”, to which I then so he assures me). This initial contact in my sights. When Neal later claimed had to explain at great length who the

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 3 Sugababes were, presumably (along and receive each day come from Meet-ups of Ripperologists, such as with the Youtube links) this bored Don Ripperologists who wish to talk to me that mentioned in last issue’s ‘On the to death. Then Don explained that not about Ripper research but about Case Extra’, have become increasingly he assumed I had meant the Sugar day-to-day chit-chat. On a wider scale, commonplace. Indeed, it seems to me, Babies (apparently this is really a many of my friends on the Facebook from viewing various communications type of sweet in America) which I had social network are Ripperologists, with from those who attended, that the never heard of, and assumed he had whom I now enjoy virtual farming, latest ‘job’ (as they are affectionately made up. It seems the Americans truly among other less serious pursuits. A called) created several more friend- have missed out on the golden age of commonality in Ripperology is, in my ships among those who attended. It the Sugababes, but I digress. At least, experience, to have friends whom we would have been almost impossible to we hope that this multinational face have met rarely, yet feel close to. In fact have achieved this mix of established will help us understand the potential one of the few Ripperologists I actually friends and those less well known to pitfalls of being divided by a common see in person on a regular basis is my them in the pre-digital age. However, language. However, with England husband! now a simple post like the ‘job’s’ and America in the same group in the All this bodes well for the field as announcement on Casebook can lead to Football (Soccer) World Cup, the title collaboration between Ripperologists a mass meet-up of like-minded individ- of this editorial is indeed about to be can lead to avenues that would not uals. In fact, knowing who else is in the truly tested anytime now. otherwise be pursued. Indeed, some of field and their specific case interests is One thing this has proved to the best and most interesting pieces easier now than ever before. This col- me is that Ripperology, despite the of work produced recently have come laboration process is a lot easier in the often contentious debates, does suc- in the form of collaborative efforts. digital age, in terms of both the effort ceed, time and time again, in bringing I learnt myself that it can often be to send communications and the ease people together, in a way that would the case that two brains can get fur- at finding the relevant information to not have been possible at the turn of ther than one in the act of talking send that message. All you need is to the last century. The advance in tech- through and discussing potential finds, PM the person on the Casebook and the nology that is linked to our investiga- much can be learnt. Some of the most process can begin, without the intru- tive journey, through forums such as respected books in the field, such as sion that one might feel in say, writing Casebook and the jtrforums.com has Evans and Skinner’s Sourcebook, a letter, or even an email to that same helped me and many others establish Begg, Fido and Skinner’s A to Z and person. not just research-based collectives but Evans and Rumbelow’s Scotland Yard Now that we have launched we also true friendships and relationships. Investigates are the result of collabora- realise that the Examiner’s friends Indeed, many of the emails I send tions between established authorities. are not just those who make up the

Friendship Never Ends Jennifer Shelden editorial, features and production team thought that, given the subject matter, but also a whole network of others something those icons of British nine- who have helped and contributed to ties pop culture once said would be an the creation of our first two issues and apt title for this editorial. With this who continue to help us shape future explanation I shall now sign off with a issues. As corny as it sounds, we truly “zig – a – zig – ah!” And as this appar- feel that all these contributors and ently can mean “whatever you want our subscribers who have so happily it to”, I shall say that in this case it embraced us are our friends too. Which means, welcome to our second issue, leads us to our articles for this issue, we hope you enjoy it. from RJ Palmer, Tom Wescott, Stewart Evans and a photographic treat for our readers thanks to the studious work of Chris Phillips. Once again they cover a varied selection of topics associated with the case. This issue also features news of an interesting project started by Trevor Bond who reports on it for On the Case Extra and yet another eye- opening photo essay from the ever help- ful Rob Clack for his column, Scenes of Crime. Finally, Caseboook regulars may indeed remember a phase I went through of using Spice Girls quotations for my signatures. This was something welcome to which subsequent discussion, I seem to remember, one poster commenting our second along the lines that five better substi- tutes to the Ripper victims they could issue, we hope not imagine! I happen to disagree with this mindset, but it did lead to a you enjoy it.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 5 Don’t Miss A Single Great Issue of Casebook Examiner Subscribe now for a whole year six big issues! for only For less than a night at the movies or a And remember, you will not$9 only be Go to w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /e x a m i n e r dyspeptic dinner for two at a fast-food getting the best in JtR fact and fiction, for full subscription details. restaurant you will get a year’s worth along with LVP true crime and social of informative articles, entertaining history articles, but the money will be features and all the exciting news in going to a suitable charity. A winning the field. combination that can’t be beat.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 6 Another Glimpse of Joseph Lawende Chris Phillips

A cloud of witnesses the mystery, as there is no record of a and Catharine Eddowes.4 Of these, Taken at face value, Sir Melville suspect having been seen by either of Elizabeth Long did not see the suspect’s Macnaghten’s comment in his famous the beat constables concerned.2 For his face, but the other three did, and the memorandum, that “No one ever saw part, Frederick Abberline had come to descriptions they gave were published the Whitechapel murderer,” must rank believe by 1903 that such witnesses as in the Police Gazette on 19 October. as one of the most surprising asser- there were had seen the suspects only And while modern-day Ripperologists tions made about the case by a senior from behind.3 have argued interminably about the officer.1 Even if we restrict ourselves to Certainly a number of witnesses credibility of a further witness, George the five “canonical” killings, there were were taken seriously by the police Hutchinson, in relation to the murder at least five potential sightings of the at the time of the murders. Donald of Mary Kelly, there is no doubt that killer and his victims together shortly Swanson prepared a table comparing Abberline believed at the time that he before the murders. In the Aberconway the descriptions provided by four wit- was telling the truth.5 version, Macnaghten qualifies his state- nesses — Elizabeth Long, PC William But later a belief did grow up ment by adding “(unless possibly it was Smith, Israel Schwartz and Joseph that there had been only one witness the City P.C. who was [on] a beat near Lawende — in relation to the murders who was worth taking seriously. In Mitre Square),” but that only deepens of Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride February 1891 a report in the Daily

1. Stewart P. Evans and Keith Skinner; The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook; Robinson (London 2001); p. 647. 2. Document in private hands, quoted by Paul Begg, Martin Fido and Keith Skinner; The Jack the Ripper A-Z; Headline (London 1996); p. 273. 3. Pall Mall Gazette, 24 March 1903; transcript at http://www.casebook.org/press_reports/pall_mall_gazette/19030324.html. 4. National Archives, MEPO 3/2890. 5. Stewart P. Evans and Keith Skinner; The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook; Robinson (London 2001); p. 420.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 7 Telegraph suggested that “[p]robably Swanson Marginalia as Kosminski — It is not entirely clear why Joseph the only trustworthy description of the but refused to give evidence against Lawende should have become the assassin” was the one given by a wit- him.8 The date of the alleged identifi- police’s favoured witness, particu- ness in Duke Street on the night of cation is unknown, but if it took place larly as he consistently expressed Eddowes’s murder. The report added before Aaron Kozminski’s committal to his doubts as to whether he would be that this witness had confronted Colney Hatch, it must have predated able to identify the man he had seen. James Thomas Sadler, who was sus- the attempted identification of Sadler. When asked at the inquest whether pected of the murder of Frances Coles, If these reports all refer to the he would know him again, he replied but had failed to identify him.6 In May same favoured witness — and of “I doubt it.” If anything this was more 1895, according to a well-informed course opinions differ as to the iden- strongly expressed in later reports by article in the Pall Mall Gazette, “there tity of Anderson’s witness — then it James McWilliam (“Mr. Lewend ... is one person whom the police believe can only be Joseph Lawende. He was says he does not think he should know to have actually seen the Whitechapel one of three men who, after leaving a the man again”) and by Swanson (“Mr. murderer with a woman a few min- club in Aldgate in the early hours of Lamende states that he could not iden- utes before that woman’s dissected 30 September, saw a man and woman tify the man”),9 and the same point was body was found in the street.” Again, standing at the corner of Duke Street made in 1910 in the sometimes unreli- the witness had been asked to identify and Church Passage, about ten min- able memoirs of Major Henry Smith, a suspect — William Grant Grainger, utes before the body of Catharine who wrote this of Lawende: “I think who had been convicted of wounding Eddowes was discovered in Mitre the German spoke the truth, because Alice Graham — and this time, accord- Square nearby. Of the three, only I could not “lead” him in any way. ing to the article, he had been success- Lawende was able to give a detailed “You will easily recognize him, then,” ful.7 Most notably, Sir Robert Anderson description of the man, and although I said. “Oh no!” he replied; “I only had in 1910 claimed in his memoirs that he had not seen the woman’s face, a short look at him.” The German was “the only person who had ever had a he believed the clothes she had been a strange mixture, honest apparently, good view of the murderer” had iden- wearing were those of Eddowes, which and intelligent also. He had heard of tified a Polish Jew — named in the he was shown. some murders, he said, but they didn’t

6. Daily Telegraph, 18 February 1891, quoted by Stewart P. Evans and Donald Rumbelow; Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard Investigates; Sutton (Stroud, Gloucestershire 2006); p. 251. 7. Pall Mall Gazette, 7 May 1895. 8. Sir Robert Anderson; The Lighter Side of My Official Life; Hodder and Stoughton (London 1910); p. 138, and annotations in Donald Swanson’s copy of the book, now in the Crime Museum at Scotland Yard. 9. Stewart P. Evans and Keith Skinner; The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook; Robinson (London 2001); pp. 201, 207, 259.

Another Glimpse of Joseph Lawende Chris Philips a “serious drawback” to the value of his description. seem to concern him.”10 Elsewhere, trace for future identification attempts next 24 years, Joseph and Annie would Swanson noted that the fact that than Schwartz and Hutchinson. We have 12 children. At the time of his mar- Lawende identified only the clothes of know of three such attempts only riage, Joseph was a cigarette maker by Eddowes was a “serious drawback” to through chance references in news- occupation, and was living in Tenter the value of his description.11 paper reports and memoirs, not from Street South in Goodman’s Fields, As for the other witnesses, PC official records, so there may well have where the family remained until about Smith’s importance may have been been more. And naturally a witness 1885. They adopted the anglicised sur- minimised because the estimated who was used repeatedly in the years name of Lavender, though continuing time of his sighting was earlier than after the murders would stick in the to use the original spelling Lawende Schwartz’s, and might have been as minds of senior officers, while their for some official purposes. much as half an hour before Stride’s memories of the others would tend to Around 1883, Joseph entered the murder. And there have been sugges- fade. employment of Messrs Gustav Kuschke tions that Schwartz’s and Hutchinson’s and Co., of 99 Fenchurch Street, tobacco accounts might later have been dis- Joseph Lawende merchants, for whom he was a com- credited by the police, though hard evi- (or Lavender) mercial traveller, which he remained dence is lacking. One factor may have Joseph Lawende was born in Warsaw for the rest of his life. About two years been Lawende’s stable employment as in 1847, and came to England around later he and his family moved north to a commercial traveller — at the time 1871. He married in 1873 in the 45 Norfolk Road, Dalston, where they of the murders he had worked for more Congregation of the New Synagogue, were living at the time of the murders. than five years for a firm of tobacco at 15 Commercial Street, Annie They later lived at various addresses merchants in Fenchurch Street12 — Lowenthal, the London-born daughter in Islington. Joseph died on 9 January which probably made him easier to of immigrants from Prussia. Over the 1925 at 16 Mildmay Park, and was

10. Henry Smith; From Constable to Commissioner; Chatto and Windus (London 1910); chapter 16; transcript at http://www.casebook.org/ripper_media/rps.constable.html. 11. Stewart P. Evans and Keith Skinner; The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook; Robinson (London 2001); p. 138. 12. National Archives, HO 144/311/B6288.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 9 buried at East Ham Cemetery. His Eventually I managed to make widow Annie died in 1936.13 contact with descendants of four of Joseph was survived by all 12 of his Joseph’s other children. As it turned children, seven of whom had children out, the story had been handed down of their own. When I began researching in some branches of the family, though his family more than two years ago, it unfortunately there was no informa- was natural to wonder what he might tion beyond what was already known. have told his children about his experi- In other branches, there had been no ence in 1888 and his part in the subse- knowledge at all of Joseph’s involve- quent investigation, and what stories ment until it was rediscovered as a they might have passed down to their result of genealogical research. And present-day descendants. Given the finally it emerged that one of the questions posed by a document handed family had already traced the geneal- down in one family — the Swanson ogy thoroughly, was in contact with all Marginalia — was there any chance Joseph’s surviving grandchildren and that some of the answers had been great-grandchildren, and had actually handed down in another? organised a reunion of his descendants My efforts received a fresh impetus in London last year. He was able to when I learned that one of those descen- assure me that no additional informa- dants, Melanie Dolman, had herself tion about the case had been preserved contacted Adam Wood of Ripperologist in the family. magazine and sent him a photograph of Joseph and Annie in their old age, surrounded by their children, taken to mark their golden wedding anniver- Happily, that sary in 1923.13 Mrs Dolman wasn’t sure whether her grandfather — Joseph’s wasn’t quite the youngest child — had been aware of his part in the murder investigation or not. end of the story…

13. For further details and source references, see the article on Joseph Lawende in the Casebook wiki section at http://wiki.casebook.org/index.php/Joseph_Lawende. 14. Ripperologist, no 87 (January 2008), pp. 2-5

Another Glimpse of Joseph Lawende Chris Philips Happily, that wasn’t quite the end of the story, though. Recently I was delighted to receive from one of Joseph’s descendants a scan of a pho- tograph taken at the marriage of his daughter Rose (b. c. 1879) to Isidore Goodman Samuel in 1899. Joseph can be seen on the right at the back, stand- ing next to his wife Annie. The brides- maid sitting in the centre at the front is Joseph’s youngest daughter, Ruby (b. 1894). I am most grateful to the owner of the photograph for permis- sion to reproduce it here. So although the investigation into Joseph Lawende’s descendants hasn’t brought to light any fresh information about the Whitechapel Murders, it has given us a much better idea of how he would have appeared on the night of his historic encounter in 1888.

Jo s e p h La w e n d e 1899

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 11 Jo s e p h La w e n d e (r i g h t )

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 12 Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott

If the murderer be possessed, as I imagine he is, with the usual cunning of lunacy, I should think it probable that he was one of the first to enroll himself amongst the amateur detectives.

H.T., to the editor of the St. James Gazette, Nov. 16, 1888.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 13 Following the discovery of Annie committee treasurer, Joseph Aarons. at some point in September hired two Chapman’s body in the yard of 29 The largest collection of able- private detectives3 who ‘[held] them- Hanbury Street and an impassioned bodied unemployed men to be found selves out as experts in the unravel- plea in the Sept. 8th, 1888 edition of near the committee headquarters ing of mysteries.’4 The men gave their the Star, calling for citizens to form was the International Working Men’s names as Charles Le Grand and J. H. themselves ‘at once into Vigilance Educational Society (also ‘Club’, here- Batchelor. Committees’, a handful of local busi- tofore referred to as the IWEC) at 40 On Saturday, September 30th, at 1 nessmen wasted no time in rising to Berner Street, which was both a politi- o’clock in the morning, Louis Diemshitz the challenge, and the Whitechapel cal and social club. The men of the discovered the body of 45-year-old pros- Vigilance Committee (heretofore IWEC would have been very familiar titute, Elizabeth Stride, in the pathway referred to as the WVC) was born. to Aarons and his colleagues as they leading into the backyard of 40 Berner The Daily Telegraph of Sept. 11th regularly held outdoor rallies in Mile Street. She had expired from a single reported the formation of the commit- End Road, and it is unavoidable that cut to the throat. Eight hours later, at tee and that ‘meetings were held at the the IWEC would have been among approximately 9 am, Police-Sergeant various working men’s clubs and other their first stops in gaining support and Stephen White, of H Division, knocked organisations, political and social, in recruits. Although it has yet to be dis- at the door of 44 Berner Street, where the district, at most of which the pro- cussed in Ripper literature, outside lived Matthew Packer, a fruitier by posed scheme was approved and vol- of my published essays2, there would trade, along with his wife, and two unteers enrolled.’ Low on funds, all the have been a strong link between the lodgers, Sarah Harrison and Harry patrolmen hired on by the committee WVC and the IWEC, with some men Douglas. White’s interrogation was were previously unemployed1, and the being involved in both organizations short and uneventful, and whatever headquarters for this newfound venture simultaneously. answers he received were recorded in was located at the Crown Tavern at 74 Feeling themselves unqualified a notebook he carried for that purpose. Mile End Road, owned and operated by for the task of investigation, the WVC The particulars as provided below are

1. ‘Amateur Detectives at Work’ feature in the East London Observer, Oct. 13th, 1888. 2. Previous to this, the WVC/IWEC connection was discussed in ‘Jack and the Grapestalk—The Berner Street Mystery Pt. 1’ in Ripper Notes No. 25, January 2006. 3.Morning Advertiser, Oct. 3rd, 1888. The article mentions three private investigators under hire of the WVC. The identity of the third man, if he ever existed, is unknown, but he was no longer with the committee by Oct. 13th, when the East London Observer published its feature on them, which described only two investigators. 4 ‘Amateur Detectives at Work’ feature in the East London Observer, Oct. 13th, 1888.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott from a report prepared by White on Oct. 4th. I asked him what time he closed his shop on the previous night. He replied half past twelve [Note in margin reads:-? Half past 11] in consequence of the rain it was no good for me to keep open. I asked him if he saw anything of a man or woman going into Dutfields Yard, or saw anyone standing about the street about the time he was closing his shop. He replied “No I saw no one standing about neither did I see anyone go up the yard. I never saw anything suspicious or heard the slightest noise, and know [sic] nothing about the murder until I heard of it in the morning. I also saw Mrs. Packer, Sarah Harris[on] and Harry Douglas resid- ing in the same house but none of them could give the slightest information respecting the matter.5 What prompted PS White’s supe- riors to request this report was a sen- sational article that appeared earlier that evening in the Evening News, to the effect that Matthew Packer had spoken to Elizabeth Stride and a man, Du t f i e l d s Ya r d

5. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations from the official Whitechapel murders police reports comes fromThe Ultimate Jack the Ripper Companion, Evans, Stewart P. & Paul Gainey, Carroll & Graf, 2000.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 15 presumably her killer, and sold them and going almost straight to number Packer served him with the grapes, grapes. If this was true, it meant that 44 where Packer, apparently with which he handed to the woman. They Packer had spoken to Jack the Ripper no inducement, started telling them then crossed the road and stood on the and the investigators had missed him, everything he knew. He stated that at pavement almost directly opposite to a fact that would deal a heavy blow 11:45 pm on Friday, the 29th, a man the shop for a long time more than half to the already suffering reputation and a woman came to his window and an hour. of the Metropolitan Police. This spec- purchased some grapes. He described tacular, though lengthy, report from the man as ‘…middle aged, perhaps the Evening News of October 4th was 35 years; about five feet seven inches actually two reports — the first writ- in height, stout, square built; wore a ten on the information turned in by wideawake hat and dark clothes; had the private detectives; the second a the appearance of a clerk; had a rough follow-up interview with Packer by the voice and a quick, sharp way of talk- newspaper’s ‘Special Commissioner’. ing.’ Regarding the woman, he said It is highly unlikely the Evening News she was middle-aged and wearing dark Wi d e a w a k e St yl e Ha t were in on the trick with Le Grand and clothing. Because it was dark outside, Packer, or were even aware of the sub- and the only light available came from Watching the couple across the terfuge, but the scoop was so good that an oil lamp he had burning inside, a street, Packer remarked to his wife, they’re sure to have turned a blind eye white flower she wore on her bosom “What fools those people are to be stand- to any mutterings or details that oth- stood in contrast to the darkness and ing in the rain like that.” The couple erwise should have set off alarm bells. drew his particular attention. He had shortly crossed the road and stood in It is also possible that Le Grand was the following conversation with the front of the IWEC, apparently listening himself the ‘Special Commissioner’, as man: to the music. According to the report, it would be odd for the newspaper to The man asked his companion it was now 10 or fifteen minutes after commission yet another person outside whether she would have black or white midnight, although if the couple came of their offices when they could have grapes; she replied “black.” to his window at 11:45 and stood across sent a trusted staff reporter. “Well, what’s the price of the black the road for more than 30 minutes, it The substance of Packer’s story as grapes, old man?” he inquired. could have been no earlier than 12:20 related in the first section of the report “The black are sixpence and the am that they crossed the street to the (that belonging to the private detec- white four pence,” replied Packer. club. Packer says he fixed the time by tives), describes ‘Messrs. Grand & J.H. “Well then, old man, give us half the closing of the public houses, by Batchelor’ arriving in Berner Street a pound of the black,” said the man. which he would have meant the Nelson

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott beerhouse a few doors down from him men what they were doing with Packer Commissioner’ of the Evening News, at the corner of Berner and Fairclough and they both said that they were he conducted a rather leading inter- streets. Detectives. I asked for their Authority view with Packer and relayed it in the Following three interviews, the one of the men produced a card from a most dramatic terms possible. Packer’s private detectives had Packer sign a pocket Book, but would not allow me to man’s age regressed a bit to 30-35, and sworn statement to the foregoing and touch it. They then said that they were Stride now carried the flower in her then, to test his accuracy, told him they private detectives. They then induced hand as opposed to wearing it in her were taking him to identify Stride’s Packer to go away with them. bosom. The couple’s movements also body, when in fact they took him to Upon returning to Berner Street, changed a bit, with them first going view that of Catherine Eddowes. He the two PI’s set about finding corrobora- in front of the club for a few minutes denied she was the woman he saw, but tive evidence for Packer’s tale, and this before passing to the other side of the immediately identified Stride when they found in abundance and in record street to stand in the rain for a half an shown her corpse. It was here that PS time. Knocking at 14 Berner Street, the hour or so. But the most sensational Stephen White made first contact with men spoke to Mrs. Rosenfield and her part of the interview is as follows: Packer and the PI’s. His report recalls sister, Eva Harstein. Mrs. Rosenfield “Well, Mr. Packer, I suppose the the meeting. stated that she passed through police came at once to ask you and your On 4th Inst. I was directed by Inspr. Dutfield’s Yard early on Sunday morn- wife what you knew about the affair, as Moore to make further inquiry & if nec- ing and saw a bloody grapestalk. Ms soon as ever the body was discovered.” essary see Packer and take him to the Harstein, who apparently was pres- “The police? No. They haven’t mortuary. I then went to 44 Berner St. ent in the yard before Stride’s body asked me a word about it yet!!! A young and saw Mrs. Packer who informed was removed, corroborated her sister’s man in plain clothes came in here on me that two Detectives had called and story and added that after removal of Monday and asked if he might look at taken her husband to the mortuary. I the body she saw ‘a few small petals of the yard at the back of our house, so then went towards the mortuary when a white natural flower’ near where the as to see if anybody had climbed over. I met Packer with a man. I asked where body had laid. Knowing that the yard My missus lent him some steps. But he he had been. He said, “this detective had been washed down following the didn’t put any questions to us about the asked me to go to see if I could identify removal of Stride’s body and following man and the woman.” the woman.[”] I said “have you so,” he a hunch, the detectives searched the “I am afraid you don’t quite under- said “Yes, I believe she bought some club’s gutter and in the refuse discov- stand my question, Mr. Packer. Do you grapes at my shop about 12. o clock on ered a grape stalk. actually mean to say that no detective or Saturday.[”] Shortly afterwards they Their case was closed. policeman came to inquire whether you were joined by another man. I asked the Regarding the ‘Special had sold grapes to any one that night?

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 17 Now, please be very careful in your to Le Grand & Co., Strand. answer, for this may prove a serious While the idea that Packer could business for the London police.” simply waltz in and demand an inter- “I’ve only got one answer,” said the view with the Commissioner of Police man “because it’s the truth. Except a is laughable, it nevertheless has gentleman who is a private detective. No become largely accepted in Ripper lore detective or policeman has ever asked through repetition. In reality, Packer me a single question nor come near met with an inspector, most probably my shop to find out if I knew anything Frederick George Abberline, who pre- about the grapes the murdered woman pared a report, the substance of which had been eating before her throat was is provided in a summary by Senior cut!!!” Assistant Commissioner, Alexander This would certainly have been Carmichael Bruce. The two detectives, news to PS White, who, intent on for good reason, would not have accom- having his meeting with Packer, panied Packer inside the station, so he returned to Packer’s residence later would now for the first time have to that same day. His report, filed later deliver his story to the inspector most that evening, records yet another abor- familiar with the particulars of the tive attempt. crime. The results are quite telling. About 4p.m. I saw Packer at his Matthew Packer shop and while talking to him the two Keeps a shop in Berner St. has a men drove up in a Hansom Cab, and few grapes in window, black & white. after going into the shop they induced On Sat night about 11p.m. a young Packer to enter the Cab stating that man from 25-30 – about 5.7. with long they would take him to Scotland Yard black coat buttoned up – soft felt hat, Ma t t h e w Pa c k e r to see Sir Charles Warren. kind of Yankee hat rather broad shoul- From inquiry I have made there ders – rather quick in speaking. rough black crape bonnet, she was playing is no doubt that these are the two men voice. I sold him ½ pound black grapes with a flower like a geranium white out- referred to in attached Newspaper 3d. A woman came up with him from side & red inside. I identify the woman cutting, who examined the drain in Back Church end (the lower end of at the St. George’s mortuary as the one Dutfield’s Yard on nd2 Inst. One of the street) She was dressed in black frock I saw that night – men had a letter in his hand addressed & jacket, fur round bottom of jacket a They passed by as though they

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott were going up Com-Road, but – instead White that the man bought grapes at proved she had not consumed grapes of going up they crossed to the other ‘about 12 am’, but here it becomes 11 (the idea given by some writers that side of the road to the Board School, pm. This would have less to do with she unfailingly spit out all seeds and & were there for about ½ an hour till I Packer’s poor memory and more with skins is, in my opinion, preposter- shd. say 11.30. talking to one another. I Abberline’s knowledge of the circum- ous), it would become clear beyond a then shut up my shutters. stances surrounding the murder; the doubt that Packer’s entire story was a Before they passed over opposite to moment that Packer stated the couple fabrication. my shop, they wait[ed] near to the club bought grapes at ‘about midnight’ In Chief Inspector Donald for a few minutes apparently listening and stood for 30 minutes in the rain, Swanson’s well-known and crucial to the music. Abberline would have reminded him report of Oct. 19th, he summarizes I saw no more of them after I shut that the rain let up after 11pm and Packer’s statement and offers the fol- up my shutters. I put the man down as stopped altogether around 11:30 pm, lowing assessment: a young clerk. He had a frock coat on forcing Packer to back-peddle and con- Mr. Packer when asked by the – no gloves. He was about 1½ or 2 or 3 cede that his conversation with Stride police stated that he did not see any inches - a little higher than she was. and her man must have happened at suspicious person about, and it was Packer’s middle-aged man has 11 pm. Abberline would also have been not until after the publication in the now become a ‘young man from 25-30’; aware that Stride’s clothing was bone- newspapers of the description of man unless Jack the Ripper was Benjamin dry when found at 1 am, meaning she seen by the P.C. that Mr. Packer gave Button, it’s safe to say that Packer, could not have stood in the rain for the foregoing particulars to two private when having to act on his own, was any length of time within only two enquiry men acting conjointly with the not a sufficient liar. As Abberline per- hours before her discovery. For these Vigilance Comtee. and the press, who sonally took the statements of any reasons, Packer could not be believed, upon searching a drain in the yard potentially important witnesses asso- not even by the man who would later found a grape stem which was amongst ciated with the Berner Street murder, accept George Hutchinson’s statement the other matter swept from the yard it is probable that he took Packer’s as at face value. When further question- after its examination by the police & well; evidence of this is in how ‘square ing of Louis Diemshitz and others then calling upon Mr. Packer whom built’ from the news report becomes present in Dutfield’s Yard following they took to the mortuary where he ‘broad-shouldered’ — a well-known the discovery of the murder proved identified the body of Elizabeth Stride Abberlineism — in the police statement. that no grapes were seen in the hand as that of the woman. Packer who is an Only hours earlier, Packer had told PS of the victim, and the medical reports elderly man6, has unfortunately made

6. Packer was 59 years old, but likely appeared older.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 19 different statements so that apart from to figure out, as it was they who sought Commissioner Charles Warren) were the fact of the hour at which he saw the out Packer, sought out the sisters, usually written in red ink and some- woman (and she was seen afterwards ‘found’ the grapestalk, and sold the times with a postscript in a different by the P.C. & Schwartz as stated) any story to a newspaper. The question the color, reminiscent of the first ‘Jack the statement he made would be rendered police should have asked at the time, Ripper’ letters. Nixon suggested Le almost valueless as evidence. but wouldn’t until much later, is ‘Why Grand as a possible suspect, drawing If Swanson was being generous to did the two men go to such trouble to attention to the line in the ‘Dear Boss’ Packer in his summary, his superior, perpetrate this hoax’? letter that mentions his name, ‘Grand Junior Assistant Commissioner, Dr. work the last job was…’ Robert Anderson, did not mind reveal- Picking Up The Scent However, aside from mention- ing his bitter annoyance in a report For more than 100 years, writers on ing that Le Grand tried to throw an dated Oct. 23rd, which read in part, ‘… the case have either accepted Packer’s arresting officer under a train, Nixon the activity of the Police has been to a story at face value, or, deciding it well failed to demonstrate that Le Grand considerable extent wasted through the and truly quashed by the police at the was anything other than an unscrupu- exigencies of sensational journalism, time, ignored it in favor of more reli- lous thief, and presented little reason and the action of unprincipled persons, able evidence. Nobody gave it much for anyone to take him seriously as who, from various motives, have endea- thought or took a closer look at the a Ripper suspect. Probably for this voured to mislead us.’ It is not known people involved. That is, until August reason, the article — an impressive if the police spoke with Mrs. Rosenfield of 1998 and the publication of issue achievement in research — passed by and Eva Harstein regarding their roles 18 of Ripperologist magazine, which with absolutely no comment on the in the mystery play, but as their names contained a short piece by researcher Internet and only one ‘letter to the and addresses were made available in Gerry Nixon entitled ‘Le Grand of the editor’ at Ripperologist, this being from the Evening News report, it would be Strand’. renowned Ripper author, Paul Begg, remarkable if they had not. Whether Nixon published the details of some who provided additional details about the sisters kept with their story or newspaper reports he had uncovered Le Grand, culled from the illustrated sang like birds can only be guessed at, regarding private detective Charles circular of the Sept. 8th, 1884 edition but Anderson’s comment referencing Le Grand. He revealed that Le Grand of the Police Gazette, issued by then the press, various ‘unprincipled per- had been known to police using many Assistant Commissioner James Monro. sons’, and different motives, is a strong aliases, had been convicted numer- Only Begg knows why he chose not to indicator they traced the entire sub- ous times for theft, blackmail, and for include these crucial details under Le terfuge back to the two private detec- writing threatening letters. Curiously, Grand’s entry (as Grand, Mr. or Le tives. This should not have been hard these letters (including one in 1887 to Grand) in the various editions of Jack

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott the Ripper A to Z, the most recent edi- bed at the London Hospital, and set- surrounding the murder of Liz Stride. tion published only two years prior. ting aside all interest in suspects, It is my experience that when you With issue 28, Begg took the reins decided to focus my attention on a delve into research with a new, sharp as editor of Ripperologist, and was thorough study of the entire investi- focus, you will always discover things suitably impressed with Nixon’s work gation. At this time, most focus in the you didn’t notice before, no matter how to publish it as a ‘From the Archives’ Ripper community seemed to be on familiar the material. reprint in number 42, August of 2002.7 Mary Kelly and the shady characters It was 2005 and I vaguely remem- Once again, the article failed to garner hanging around Dorset Street, but I bered an article I had read a few years any comment at all from the Ripper came to feel strongly that if the Ripper before about the private detective who community. I was a subscriber to the had slipped up and left us a clue to his interviewed Packer, so I kept my eye magazine at this time and read the identity, it would be on the night of out for it as I rifled through my box article, but admit I thought little of it. the ‘double event’, so I set about sift- of Ripperologist magazines (which, This is no slight on Nixon’s ground- ing through the evidence, certain there thanks to a lucky Internet purchase, breaking work, but perhaps a small was much more information, hidden was a complete set). When I got to issue condemnation of we Ripperphiles just below the surface, waiting to be 18, I hit pay dirt. What had previously being too busy chasing tired suspects pulled out into the light. I couldn’t been an entertaining but anticlimac- or minding the old canard that ‘all have been more correct. tic read suddenly hit me like a light- roads lead to Dorset Street’. As for As my research continued I devel- ning bolt, and I found myself asking myself, I was busy at the time shadow- oped a particular interest in the Stride questions that no one, not even Gerry ing Robert Donston Stephenson, and case, not only because there was so Nixon, had thought to ask before. had little time to consider the misgiv- much going on with the various wit- It occurred to me how absurd it ings of a character whose only attach- nesses and the socialist club, but also was to think that Matthew Packer ment to the Ripper mystery is through because no one else (at this time) could have engineered the deceit the long-ago disqualified tale of a bum- seemed to be looking there, and many that had attached itself so firmly to bling old fruit salesman, who, as was commentators were even dismissing his name. He was, after all, merely a generally believed, made up the whole Stride as a Ripper victim, often for all simple fruitier and family man, getting thing simply for publicity. the wrong reasons. I decided to narrow on in years. Is it really conceivable that Before long, I came to realize that my focus even further and learn all he could have dreamt up such a tale, Stephenson’s ‘road’ led only to a comfy I could about the people and events convinced the two sisters to go along

7. He would re-publish it a third and fourth time in the Dissertations section of Casebook.org, and in the book, Ripperology: The Best of Ripperologist Magazine, Barnes & Noble, 2006.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 21 with it, and most importantly, have appear incompetent to the world, par- didn’t have the means to pay him all succeeded in deceiving a career crimi- ticularly if that someone happened to that much, and certainly less than he nal such as Le Grand? The answer is, be a con who was already wanted for could have earned through more cor- of course, no. failing to appear while on probation. rupt channels? Why spend his eve- It was simple enough to conclude I thought perhaps he could have nings training recruits and his nights that Le Grand had engineered the con- perpetrated the ruse for publicity’s walking the dark, wet streets of the spiracy, but why would he have done sake, to get more business coming in East End when he could have been at so? The obvious answer is money. After the door at his office in the Strand. But his gambling den or his brothel, sur- all, Nixon’s expose made it quite clear later research would put a stop to that rounded by beautiful (comparatively that there was very little Le Grand idea, as it soon became clear that he speaking) women? None of it made any wouldn’t do in his pursuit of more cash. never operated legitimately as a pri- sense, unless… But this didn’t make sense either, as vate detective in the first place, but If money and publicity were not he would only have been paid a single invented the guise for blackmailing to be gained by the lie, and liberty and And the questions kept on coming. commission from the Evening News for purposes and other illegal ventures. money stood to be lost, what was to be his story, and it certainly would have Also, the Evening News report of Oct. achieved? The answer to that question taken more than charm alone to coax 4th, 1888, is to date only one of two is quite obvious to any student of the Packer and the two sisters into lying occasions where Le Grand allowed his Ripper murders. Following the publi- to the press and police. If anything, name to be mentioned. This is remark- cation of Packer’s story in the Evening he would have been out of pocket with able, given the opportunity presented News, it was picked up by just about payola when all was said and done. to him by being an integral part of the every paper, and was an overnight And should his lie be exposed, he risked press-friendly WVC. It seems that he sensation. The Daily News had Packer not only his position with the Vigilance went out of his way to avoid publicity. pick from a number of woodcuts the Committee, but also attracting the And the questions kept on coming. one most resembling his fictitious attention of the police, who would not If Le Grand wasn’t a legitimate man, and when Albert Bachert (who take kindly to someone slowing their private detective, why did he seek made his first appearance in the inves- investigation down and making them out a position with the WVC, which tigation simultaneously with Le Grand

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott and Packer) picked the same likeness said, looked nothing like himself. having been the ‘title character’ of as that of the man he allegedly spoke In the January, 2006 edition of Stewart Evans and Paul Gainey’s sem- to at the Three Nun’s prior to midnight Ripper Notes (issue #25), I published inal 1995 best-seller, The Lodger on the same evening, the likeness was a lengthy essay entitled ‘Jack and the (U.S.A. title Jack the Ripper: First published and, as far as the public was Grapestalk: The Berner Street Mystery American Serial Killer). Evans and concerned, they now knew what Jack Pt. 1’, a sizeable portion of which was Gainey argued that a mysterious for- the Ripper looked like. This misinfor- devoted to my suspicions about Le eign man lodging in the house of Mrs. mation may have gotten Mary Kelly Grand that were only then taking form. Kuer, a German laundress, at 22 Batty killed if she were keeping her eye out I expanded on what Nixon had offered, Street, had left behind a bloodstained only for a man of this description. corrected a few mistakes, and made a shirt following the ‘double event’ mur- Grapes played a pivotal part in at few new ones of my own along the way. ders of Catherine Eddowes and Liz least two of the most popular Ripper In the following pages I hope to correct Stride, and that this man must have films, including 2001’s From Hell, and those errors, offer exciting new infor- been the American quack doctor and countless Ripper books. Indeed, Sir mation on Le Grand, while at the same Ripper suspect, Francis Tumblety. A William Withey Gull’s love for grapes time limiting the amount of minutia good portion of the book was devoted was one of the key points of evidence which, while quite interesting to some, to developing this thesis, and it’s fair used to identify him as the Ripper! That myself included, might bore others to to say that the Batty Street Lodger the ‘grapes of myth’ are so ingrained in tears. The purpose of this present dis- theory formed one of the three pillars of Ripper lore well over a century after sertation is to present what we know evidence upon which the argument for the murders is testament to the impact about Le Grand up to this point so Tumblety as Ripper stands; the other it must have had while the investiga- that we can move forward in unearth- two being the well-known ‘Littlechild tion was afoot. ing more material about him and the letter’ and the vast amount of report- With much to lose and nothing investigators who thought he was Jack age in American papers concerning apparent to gain, it appears that Le the Ripper. Scotland Yard inspectors following Grand’s sole motive in orchestrating the Tumblety to America and shadowing Berner Street conspiracy was to present Le Grand & The Batty his every move. the world with a phantom suspect; one Street Lodger In a series of articles for who never existed, and therefore could The Batty Street Lodger should be Ripperologist magazine8, researcher never be found, and one who, it must be familiar to all readers of this journal, Gavin Bromley expertly proved beyond

8. ‘Mrs. Kuer’s Lodger’, Ripperologist No. 81, July 2007, and ‘Is there an Echo around here? An Addendum to ‘Mrs. Kuer’s Lodger’’, Ripperologist No. 83, September 2007.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 23 doubt that the Batty Street Lodger is not known. Mrs. Kail was able to tales. The Echo from Oct. 18th, 1888, had never existed and had largely been give a good description of her myste- reports: nothing more than the press making rious customer; but the authorities do An Echo reporter called yester- a mountain out of a molehill. A pillar not consider it advisable to make it day afternoon upon Mr. Packer, the falls, severely weakening the argu- public. Little importance is attached Berner-street fruitier, where the mur- ment for Tumblety as a viable Ripper to the incident, it being pretty obvious derer bought the grapes for Elizabeth suspect. that if the murderer wished to dispose Stride. It now appears that the man Bromley wrote that the Lodger of his blood-stained garment, he would was known by Mr. Packer, who posi- story broke in the papers on October get rid of it in a more effective manner tively asserted, “I had seen him in this 16th, although subsequently he was able than by leaving it with a laundress to district several times before, and if you to find one report from the day before, be washed.9 ask me where he lives I can tell you and it had previously been accepted This means that not one but two within a little. He lodges not a great that this was the first reportage of the long-standing ruses can be laid at the way from the house where Lipski, who Batty Street Lodger. However, a recent feet of Le Grand, who not only had was hanged for poisoning a woman, bombshell discovery by Debra Arif, pre- the police running in every direction lived.” “How many times have you seen sented here for the first time, comes a but to his own door, but also modern him?” was asked Mr. Packer. “About full five days earlier, on Oct. 10th, and researchers likewise looking with mis- twenty; and I have not seen him since is the first and last word on the Batty guided suspicion at the wrong men. the murder.” Street Lodger: Mrs. Kuer (or ‘Kail’ as suggested here) Since Israel Lipski lived at 16 A BLOODSTAINED SHIRT. could only speak German, which posed Batty Street, only 3 doors down from Messrs Grand and Batchelor, private a problem for reporters, so it’s likely Mrs. Kuer/Kail at number 22, there detectives, received information yes- that the German-speaking Le Grand can be no doubt that Packer is here terday afternoon which induced them — the original source for the story — tying together Le Grand’s two stories to make enquiries in Batty-street, was also the person responsible for the and offering them up as one, with the Whitechapel. They ascertained that a otherwise mundane story becoming a added information that he’d known this man, name unknown, recently left with press sensation, while being careful extraordinary suspect well by sight! Mrs. Kail a shirt, the sleeves of which to keep his name out of the press once Any writer now wishing to invest either were stained with blood. Information the story took hold. Le Grand even the Lodger story or the Packer grape was sent to the police, who at once pulled in his stooge, Matthew Packer, episode with any evidential value will instituted enquiries, with what result to provide a link between his two tall certainly have an uphill battle!

9. The North-Eastern Daily Gazette, Wednesday, Oct. 10th, 1888.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott A Man Without A Past courthouse, being indicted for theft in Pimlico, where Le Grand introduced Le Grand’s real name might have been the summer of 1877. It appears that himself as a traveler for a French house Christian Nelson, or Neilson, but he on June 26th, Le Grand entered a fancy and succeeded in selling her nine and made such a habit of using aliases stationary shop at 1 St. James Place, afterwards 23 purses. He called again that it is difficult at this juncture to be Pall Mall, and informed the proprietor, two days later, on June 29th, with a col- certain of his true identity. He almost Mr. Harrison, that he was a merchant lection of knives for sale, freshly stolen certainly was a Dane, but passed for leaving for the Mediterranean in a few from Messrs. Millikin and Lawley in an Englishman, an American, and a days and needed to place a large order the Strand. Mrs. Blackmore expressed Frenchman, and has also been iden- for delivery. He ordered various goods her disappointment that the purses tified by the police as a German and equaling to £70 in value and asked that were not of French manufacture, upon a Belgian. It was reported that he they be delivered to 12 Clifton-Gardens, which Le Grand left, promising he’d hailed from good stock and was the Maida-vale. He gave his name as Mr. return immediately, an oath he had son of an important Danish diplomat. Biscoy10 and left the shop. When the no intention of making good on. Mrs. He certainly seems to have been very goods were delivered it was found that Blackmore noticed that Mr. Harrison’s intelligent, well educated, and was no one by that name was known at that name and address, etched in gold in multi-lingual. He was also a hardened, address. The remarkable fact about each of the purses, had been scratched streetwise sociopath. When combined, this episode is that while Mr. Harrison away, but she was able to make out the these two seemingly opposing com- followed Le Grand around the store, details and returned the goods to him positions of character comprised an making note of the items being ordered, on Saturday, June 30th. individual who might be called the late- Le Grand was able to secret on himself Victorian equivalent to Ted Bundy, no less than 16 purses and a pocket- a fact not lost on a former Member book without being detected. Even if Le of Parliament who observed that, ‘by one is to accept Le Grand as a sleight- nature, by personal gifts, as well as of-hand master par excellence and Mr. Grand’s by habits and surroundings, he was Harrison as the least observant shop- as near an approach to what Jack the keeper on record, the question remains luck ran Ripper might be expected to be as any of ‘where did he put all those purses’? man ever known to the police.’ While this may never be answered, we out on We first meet Le Grand as Christian do know that the purses ended up at Nelson in his home away from home, a Mrs. Blackmore’s shop at Wilton Road, July 5th

10. This is probably a misprint of ‘Briscony’, a known alias of Le Grand.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 25 Le Grand’s luck ran out on July 5th 1849’, born in Denmark, and, most meeting with the sergeant, he became when he attempted to slip a gold locket curiously, his profession given as Civil a wanted man. An 1884 edition of the up his sleeve at Mr. Norchi’s Jewelers Engineer and Architect. Police Gazette, mentioned earlier, was in Wigmore Street. He was handed It is said that the difference circulated widely within the police force over to the police and found Guilty of between a psychopath and a psychotic and offered the following description: theft. Le Grand admitted two previous is that when you remove a psychotic Christian Nelson, alias Briscony felony convictions, though details of (Kosminski would be a good example) and Neilson, A[ge] 36, ht. 6ft., these are not yet known; we do know from their natural environment, they c[omplexion] dark, h[air] light brown, from Detective Smith, who appeared will continue with the same unlawful e[yes] grey; scars on nose, centre of as a witness, that one was for shoplift- or immoral behavior, but a psychopath, forehead, right first finger, thumb, ing. Detective-Sergeant King informed when separated from those things and wrist, left thumb, first and second the court that there were nearly a which trigger their violent tendencies, finger, and left thigh; hair down centre dozen similar cases, and PC George will quickly adapt, and for this reason, of chest to bottom of stomach. Hewlett mentioned that besides the it is well-known that serial killers are The report also gives his national- instances already given, Le Grand was model prisoners. ity as ‘German’ and notes that he pro- also responsible for thefts from Mr. Le Grand must have likewise been fessed to be a waiter and would obtain Lewis, bookseller, 136 Gower Street, on his best behavior, for he was allowed money and goods from young women Mr. Mudie, 15 Coventry Street, and freedom a year early, and on the day of under pretense of marriage. No doubt, Mr. Negas, 14 Charles Street. his liberation, May 6th, 1884, he visited that is not all he ‘obtained’ from these The judge, finding Le Grand an Sergeant Bartells of Scotland Yard for naïve young women. ‘adept at crime’, sentenced him to a the first of what was supposed to be It is not known at present where harsh eight years of penal servitude many such visits. Sergeant Bartells or how Le Grand spent the next two to be followed by seven years of police explained that he would be on parole years of his life, but in 1886 he met probation. At this time, Le Grand gave for the next seven years and would the woman who was to become his his name as Christian Nelson, age have to regularly report to the police constant companion — his common- 29, a Dane, and his profession as an during that time. Le Grand agreed law wife and willing accomplice. engineer.11 to the terms of his release and left, Her name was Amelia Marie Demay Four years later, in 1881, the though he had no intention of making Pourquoi, although she was variously census finds Le Grand still in prison, good on them. known as Madame Marie Pourquoi, age 32, his estimated birth year ‘about When he failed to keep his next Amelia Demay, and Amelia Pourquoi.

11. The Times, July 12th, 1877.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott Although Pourquoi is likely her true and that she had lived as man and its door. Le Grand soon became known surname, she is regularly referred to wife with a man named Demay, from amongst ‘loose women’ as the French in the primary sources as ‘Demay’, so whom she took the name. According Colonel, a character he had devised for to keep confusion to a minimum that is to Sergeant William James, he first himself in which he was a colonel in the name by which I’ll refer to her. saw Le Grand with Demay in January the French Army. It is not clear when Little is presently known about 1886, when she was still living with this guise was first adopted, but it was her, except that she appears to have led Mr. Demay. The detail that she met Le already notorious with both police and almost as colorful a life as Le Grand, Grand in 1886 is corroborated by the prostitutes by the first months of 1887. and may have been the only woman in landlady whom she had lived with for a It appears that the ink on their lease his life he did not hate. Having several year prior to her ‘picking up’ Le Grand had barely dried before Le Grand set times been charged as a ‘disorderly ‘by accident’. about frightening, threatening, and woman’ by the time they met, and From September of 1885 to the physically attacking every prostitute known to the police for years, she would following September, Demay lived as in the area not under his employ. The spend the next few years as Yin to his man and wife with a Mr. Demay at 85 practical end to this was that it left the Yang. The Illustrated Police News of Bolsover Street, a house and club run streets open for Demay and her girls Oct. 19th, 1889, records an appearance by Henry and Harriet Palmer. Mrs. to ply their trade, but it seems that that Demay and Le Grand, already Palmer would state that the first time Le Grand also took a great joy in his serving time for crimes which we will she saw Charles Le Grand was the day ‘work’. discuss shortly, made before the judge that Mrs. Demay moved away. At this to regain control of furniture that had point, in September of 1886, the couple A Prelude to Berner been repossessed by the bank following took up lodgings at 243 Elgin Avenue, Street? their conviction. For whatever reason, Maida Vale, where they lived as hus- On the evening of February 24th, Louise Demay was asked to give a history of band and wife in the home of Elizabeth Laudry and Henrietta Pasquier, two herself, and said she was 31 years old Walsh. This was to be only temporary young ‘unfortunates’, were walking and a native of Rouen, where she had as they sought a house of their own, their beat along Great Portland Street been a milliner. She came to London in and by year’s end, they had found such when Le Grand approached carry- 1880 as housekeeper to a Belgium fish- a home at 35 Charlotte Street, Portland ing a stick. For reasons unknown, he monger, had never been married, and Place. raised the stick and threatened to kill “picked up” (her words) Le Grand one The large house on Charlotte Ms. Laudry, who ran off in fear for her day in 1886 in Portland Street. She of Street was not merely a house, but a life. Le Grand soon discovered that course leaves out the years she worked brothel, with Madame Demay’s name she intended to press charges and set as a prostitute, the numerous arrests, emblazoned proudly on the outside of about covering himself by producing

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 27 his own witness in the form of his part- He solicited the testimony of one John trumped up charge against his accuser, ner, Madame Demay, who offered an Morgan, a former soldier in the army, Le Grand walked out of court a free alibi for him on the night of the attack, to back up the lie. Le Grand took the man, if a little lighter in the pocket. He stating she’d been with him. He found stand as witness and testified to his was ordered to pay a fine of £3, with out that Laudry’s friend, Henrietta being a colonel in the French army, but two guineas costs, for the assault, with Pasquier, intended to testify against refused to state what regiment to which an order to enter into his recognizance him as a witness to the attack, an he belonged. It is unclear whether he in the sum of £50 for good behavior occurrence that could seriously damage was merely attempting to confuse mat- in the future. Along with this slap on his defense. ters or if he honestly thought his ruse the wrist, he received a warning from Two days following the first attack, would be believed and win him sympa- the magistrate to be very careful of his Pasquier was once again walking along thy, but the truth is probably a little of conduct, for if he appeared before him Great Portland Street when Le Grand both. again, he’d likely be sent to jail without approached. He made it clear he did Just to keep track, Le Grand has the option of a fine. Although the mag- not wish for her to testify against attacked two prostitutes in the open istrate was apparently convinced the him, and to bring the point home, he street during broad daylight and now attacks against Laudry and Pasquier beat her severely about the face with has two separate summons against occurred, he made no attempt to hold his fist, causing injuries sufficient to him, one from Ms. Laudry and the Madame Demay liable for her obvi- require she be taken to Middlesex other from Ms. Pasquier. In turn, ous perjury. In an even ghastlier dis- Hospital. Not only did she go on to he has charged Pasquier and a Ms. play of injustice, Magistrate Newton testify on the behalf of her friend, but Leroy with attacking Madame Demay, found Henrietta Pasquier guilty of the a new summons was put against Le unquestionably a false charge, and has assault upon Demay and ordered her to Grand for this second attack, and a wit- engaged the services of former army pay a bond of £3 to keep the peace. The ness — another young woman named soldier, John Morgan, to support his summons against Pasquier’s friend for Hodgkinson — was on hand to corrobo- story. Magistrate Newton must have her alleged assault on Amelia Demay rate Pasquier’s tale. used a scorecard to keep track of who, was dismissed. With two separate charges now at any given minute, was witness, That Le Grand was able to pay against him, Le Grand decided it was defendant, or plaintiff! And this dis- his bond speaks well of his finances, as time to take matters, and reality, into turbing tale was only just beginning to £50 in 1887 translates to almost £4,000 his own hands. He told the magis- unfold. today. But pay it he did, and soon he trate that his girlfriend, Demay, had Despite complaints of assault set upon a path of vengeance against been assaulted by Henrietta Pasquier against two women, each with cor- Ms. Pasquier that would have him back and a friend of hers named Ms. Leroy. roborative witnesses, and an obviously in court by the end of the month — but

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott not before the poor young woman had with assaulting her, and recently she Henrietta must have felt relief at been stalked, terrorized, and twice had been followed up and down the the first hint of true justice to come more beaten. streets by the prisoner and other men, her way during this terrifying ordeal, Le Grand, now acting strictly out who object evidently was to assault her. and carrying with her this newfound of vengeance, wasted no time in making In fact, it was unsafe for her to walk sense of security, or perhaps it was Pasquier regret her actions. With the about. Madame Pasquier said that unabashed naivety, the brave young aid of a few thugs in his employ, Le as she and another “lady” were walk- woman left court and immediately set Grand and his men dogged Pasquier’s ing down Regent-street the prisoner about her old beat in Great Portland steps for days, taunting and frighten- rushed upon her, and without saying a Street. She was walking with a friend, ing her and generally making her life word, struck her violently in the face. Ellen Perin, when she heard an all- a living hell. When terror alone lost its The prisoner, who appeared to be mud- too familiar voice yelling obscenities charm, Le Grand was more than ready dled with drink, simply said, “Well, at her. She turned to find Charles Le to have two of his men make good on his she shoved me and I shoved her, and Grand approaching, but instead of promise of brutality. Reynold’s News of that’s all; can’t a fellow walk about?” running, she stood her ground. It must Sunday, March 20th, 1887, was one of Mr. Mansfield [the magistrate in this have been a wet afternoon, because Le the papers that carried the story. case-TW]: You seem to have committed Grand was carrying a large umbrella Marlborough — Street a wanton assault upon this wretched in place of his walking stick. The “Ladies” Of Regent-Street. John woman. If you have been paid to assault “You got the man two months. I’ll Tysell, Fitzroy-chambers, Whitfield- her, it is still worse. Your conduct has kill you!” yelled Le Grand as he vio- street, of no occupation, was charged been blackguardly to the last degree, lently struck her across the face with with assaulting Madame Pasquier, of and you will be committed with hard his umbrella. Clipstone-street, in Regent-street, about labour for two months. Prisoner left the Ellen Perin’s first instinct was six o’clock the previous night. Mr. dock muttering, “For nothing at all – to run for a constable, so she started Arthur Newton [a solicitor, not to be I’m innocent.” away from the scene, but as she heard confused with Magistrate Newton-TW] It was John Tysell’s12 misfor- her friend crying in fear and pain, said the prosecutrix had reason to tune that he did not stand in front of and realizing she might be too late if believe that the prisoner was the agent Magistrate Newton, who probably she waited to find a constable, she of a man who was known amongst loose would have let him go with a small returned to the action, and in a very women as the “French Colonel”. A few fine, with Pasquier no doubt getting brave move, reached out and seized Le days ago he (the Colonel) was charged the same for her troubles. Grand’s umbrella in mid-swing.

12. His surname might be ‘Tyrell’, as reported in another paper.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 29 Laughter broke the tension in the courtroom

Perin proved to be as delightful as spent her morning and once again attorney, called no witnesses on his she was courageous in her exchange appeared before Magistrate Mansfield, client’s behalf, his whole argument with the magistrate: her face bloody and swollen. It makes being that Le Grand’s actions in seek- Newton: “And what happened to sense that Pasquier returned to Mr. ing police protection proved all had not you then?” Mansfield instead of making her com- gone down as Ms. Pasquier and the two Perin: “Why, I and his umbrella plaint to the police, as he had been the witnesses stated. Mr. Newton, by now went into the middle of the road.” only one involved in this horrifying wise in the ways of the ‘French Colonel’, Laughter broke the tension in the saga to have not let her down. replied: “If you knew as much of this courtroom, but to Pasquier this was Mr. Mansfield immediately issued man as I do you would not be surprised no laughing matter. She must have a warrant for Le Grand’s arrest, a task at his going there. If I had been sitting known that if not for the interference falling to Constable Brewster. The here he might have had the imperti- of her friend, she may very well have young constable was certainly up to nence to come to me.” Given the easy been murdered that day. the task as it was barely after 4:30pm treatment Le Grand had received on It would appear that Le Grand was that same afternoon when he came his previous trips before Mr. Newton, thinking on his feet once Perin broke upon Le Grand in Oxford Street. PC he would have been wise to do so. free with his umbrella, as he immedi- Brewster informed him of the charge, Mr. Newton ordered that Le Grand ately began calling for a constable. He to which Le Grand replied, “I didn’t be remanded into custody for a week attracted the attention of one, but the assault her, she assaulted me. I called while a plain-clothes officer looked into officer did not believe him and did not a constable, but he refused to take her his history. This man would prove to investigate further. Abounding with into custody. I have been to the station be Police-Sergeant William James of D gall, Le Grand then made his way to in Tottenham Court Road to complain Division. the police station in Tottenham Court about it.” Le Grand no doubt relished the Road, where he proceeded to file a A Ms. Boxall, who had been on thought of his crooked affairs being complaint against Pasquier, stating Great Portland Street that afternoon looked into about as much as he did that she had attacked him! Meanwhile, and witnessed the whole thing, was having to sit for a week awaiting sen- Pasquier returned to the Marlborough called as a witness for Ms. Pasquier. tence in his cell with the almost certain Street Police Court where she had Mr. Pain, Le Grand’s aptly-named knowledge that he was headed back off

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott to prison for another long stretch. After sentence. If this is what they were Le Grand’s ‘luck’ this time out wasn’t all, he had no witnesses to support his expecting, they were soon to be horribly of the bought and sold variety. story whereas Pasquier produced two. disappointed, as Mr. Newton “ordered Four months later, in August, Le And let us not forget it was she bear- the accused to find two sureties in the Grand wrote a letter to Commissioner ing the bloodied, swollen face. Given sum of £50 to be of good behaviour for Charles Warren complaining of the Le Grand’s propensity to hire people to the next three months.” With that, and conduct of a constable. Commissioner do his dirty work, his lack of a support- pending the payment of his sureties, Warren handed the letter, dated ing ‘witness’ indicates the most recent Le Grand was free to go. August 5th, 1887, to Chief Inspector attack on Pasquier must have been Three months good behavior! The Henry Wyborn of D Division, stationed spur of the moment. His fury so hot man couldn’t go three days in the month at the Tottenham Court Road Police that he reacted on impulse, threaten- of March without beating some poor station. The letter was described by ing to murder the woman and beating woman, or paying to have one stalked Wyborn as a ‘long letter’, regarding the her in broad daylight only days after and beaten, not to mention the phony misconduct of a constable under his he’d been assured a prison sentence police reports and inducing two people command, William Hughes No. 409. should he appear before the magistrate to perjure themselves on his behalf. On Chief Inspector Wyborn was already again. Le Grand was not a stupid man, top of this, surely the plainclothes offi- familiar with Le Grand and had known but he was a sociopath, and sociopaths cer Mr. Newton ordered to look into Le Demay for years before she had met Le do stupid things. Grand’s affairs was competent enough Grand. They spoke for 10 or 15 min- As fate would have it, Le Grand to realize that it was more than good utes about the letter and the conduct didn’t remain in his cell for even the fortune that allowed Le Grand’s home of Hughes, who appears to have been week prescribed for investigation, but and ‘lodging house’ to have a buxom, the constable Le Grand approached was instead called back to court only young woman in each window. And it’s in the street, following his attack on four days later, on March 30th, to take a rare magistrate who would assure a Pasquier, but who would not assist his place one last time before Mr. guilty man that his next appearance him. This letter, in Le Grand’s hand- Newton. Henrietta Pasquier and her would warrant a prison sentence, only writing and signed by him, would later attorney must have seen this as a good to let him go on bond once again when come back to haunt him. sign — the magistrate having satisfied he appeared only days later for an even It is unclear why Le Grand waited himself as to Le Grand’s guilt in this greater offense. until August to complain about the con- and perhaps other wrongdoings, saw Mr. Newton seems to have been stable when the action had occurred in no need for waiting before sentencing more concerned with Le Grand’s liberty March, but it’s possible he had spent the man he’d already deemed morally than his own reputation, and although some or all of that time in jail, failing reprehensible to a long overdue prison it can’t be proved, one must wonder if to come up with the combined sureties

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 31 of £100. More probably, his attention the famous writer and war correspon- Baker Street. By coincidence, early was diverted with further criminal dent, Archibald Forbes, the two men Ripperologist, Lyttleton Stewart Forbes activity. sharing the same club. Forbes was also Winslow, lived in between the two par- Reading these stories of Le Grand friendly with Dr. Malcolm Alexander ties at number 14. Subsequent events yelling obscenities in the open street, Morris, considered one of the world’s would prove Le Grand and Dermay’s and of attacking prostitutes, or stand- top skin disease specialists, whom he move to have been a less than coinci- ing by while one of his men do the dirty asked to visit Hester as a personal dental, as the duo had set their sights work, immediately brings to mind favor. It was a generous gesture that on making Morris pay, one way or the the evidence of Israel Schwartz in the Forbes would come to regret. other. It is not yet clear what stake the Berner Street murder of Liz Stride. Dr. Morris arrived at the Charlotte couple had in Mr. Hester, but it likely Schwartz had witnessed a man Street house where Le Grand had set has something to do with a debt, prob- about 30 years of age (Tysell would up office for his new undertaking as ably gambling, as Hester had made a have been 34 or 35) manhandle Stride a private investigator. He had not yet long career of running up enormous and throw her to the ground while a taken up offices on the Strand. It took debts. few yards up the street stood another Morris no time at all to realize that the For whatever reason, they chose man lighting his pipe, whom Schwartz house was a brothel and he ordered to wait for more than a year before believed had chased him. ‘Pipeman’, Hester’s immediate removal, which making their move against the doctor. as he is known to modern researchers, Hester readily agreed to. This was to Perhaps it had to do with Le Grand’s was about 35 years of age, 5ft 11in. the chagrin of Le Grand and Demay, new undertaking as a private enquiry tall, with light brown hair; Le Grand who would now lose the funding of agent, which it must be made clear was was 35-40 years of age, 6ft tall, with their unfortunate ‘lodger’. strictly a guise that would allow him to light brown hair. Morris had Hester admitted to 28 perpetrate crimes such as blackmail, York Place, Baker Street, where a lady and which would allow him a reason Filling In The Blanks named Mrs. Ada Mahomed, the widow to get close to people of import without In the fall of 1887, a man named only as of Dr. Frederick A. Mahomed, ran a drawing too much suspicion. If a con- Hester in the press, but who research private hospital for sufferers of skin stable thought his behavior suspicious, would prove to be William Henry disease. In spite of receiving the best he could simply show his credentials Hester, was boarding at 35 Charlotte possible care, Mr. Hester died within a and, at worst, be asked to leave. Street, suffering from an unnamed dis- few months of his admission. At about It was also at this time that ease that would prove terminal. He had that time, Le Grand and Demay set Charles Grandy became Charles Le been a man of means but had fallen on themselves up in rooms in the very Grand. hard times. Hester was friends with same street at number 3 York Place, Le Grand’s life between the fall

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott of 1887 and September of 1888, when must have existed for them to make Morris of having made a promise of he joined up with the Whitechapel this claim. marriage to Demay, with intent to Vigilance Committee, remains quite a extort money.’ Messrs. Lockwood, Q.C. mystery, with only a few details being The Terror of Cavendish and Besley prosecuted, Mr. Keith Frith known to us. We know that at some Square defended Le Grand, and Mr. Candy point during this time, he made the In February of 1889, Le Grand and Q.C. defended Demay, but did not acquaintance of Mr. J.H. Batchelor Demay began in earnest their cam- appear until late in the case. In typi- who would become his short-lived paign of terror against Dr. Malcolm A. cal Le Grand fashion, he decided early partner in the private enquiry enter- Morris. Recent discoveries, which we on in the proceedings to fire his lawyer prise. Batchelor would not fare much will look at later, suggest that it was so that he could defend himself. The better than any of Le Grand’s other during or shortly after Le Grand’s stint following is in the words of Dr. Morris known victims during this time, find- with the WVC, from late 1888 to early from the Old Bailey transcript, relay- ing himself physically attacked by his 1889, that he first fell under suspicion ing the harassment he suffered. senior partner in the open street of the of being the Whitechapel murderer. I am a Fellow of the R.C.S. of Strand at some point in 1889. A sum- The police revelation that their liaison Edinburgh and a Member of the R.C.S. mons was filed against Le Grand, but with the popular vigilance committee of London. I have lived at 8, Harley denied by the judge. We also have the was actually a brutal user and abuser Street, Cavendish Square, for two tantalizing suggestion that Le Grand of prostitutes may have come about as years; before that I lived for ten years was employed by the Times as part a result of the Morris trial, so further in Montague Square. I have made of the investigation for the Parnell research into the events and people skin diseases a specialty; I am sur- Commission, and that he shadowed not described might prove fruitful. geon in charge of the skin department only disgraced letter writer Richard The magistrate’s court hearing of St. Mary’s Hospital, and am lecturer Pigott, but also the radical MP and began at the end of March and was in that medical school. I am also a journalist, Henry Labouchere. We will adjourned several times. It actually member of seven or eight societies con- further consider these claims shortly. ran longer than the trial, which began nected with medicine. My practice has For what it’s worth, we also know that on June 24th, 1889. been extensive; my name is well known at some point in late 1887 or early The defendants were named as in the profession. I am forty years of 1888, Le Grand acquired a ‘fancy per- Amelia Marie Pourquoi Demay, age 30, age; I was married in July, 1872, and forming dog’, as Demay would later and Charles Colnette Grandy, age 36. have four children, my eldest boy is six- state in court it had been a gift from The charge was ‘unlawfully conspir- teen. I know Mr. Archibald Forbes, the Dr. Morris. Although the claim against ing together, and with other persons, war correspondent for the newspapers; Morris was certainly untrue, the dog falsely to accuse Malcolm Alexander in consequence of a letter I received

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 33 from him in November, 1887, a Mr. a letter signed “Amelia Demay”. I had was a nurse there; she had acted as Hester called upon me and consulted no knowledge of any woman of that nurse for me in some cases. I cannot me, and in consequence of that visit I name – I had never been in a house in recollect the date of Grandy’s call, but I went to see him at 35, Charlotte Street, Bolsover Street in my life – the whole think it was a fortnight before I received so that I might see him undressed and story in the letter is an absolute fabri- the first letter of 16th February. I think in bed. A woman opened the door to me; cation and lie from beginning to end. I I next saw Grandy a week or ten days she had on a dressing gown. I should afterwards received a writ, dated 25th before Easter. I saw him outside my not know her again. I asked where my February, issued by Mr. Fk. Hatton, of house; it was in the morning, about the patient was – she said upstairs – I went 150, Strand -subsequently I received a time I receive patients. He was there for up to the attic at the top of the house, letter dated 21st February, 1889, and several hours; he walked up and down where I saw him. A nurse was attend- another dated 27th February, 1889. I on the opposite side, constantly looking ing on him, who I heard had been in had then consulted my family solici- at the house; one of my servants called the family for some time. Mr. Hester tors, and afterwards, with their con- my attention to him – after that he was an ex-taxing master in bankruptcy, sent, put the matter in the hands of Mr. followed me and my wife and my ser- and was a gentleman in reduced cir- George Lewis. I first saw the prisoner vants, and generally produced a reign cumstances. His surroundings were of Grandy when he called at my house; he of terror in the house. He followed them great discomfort; it was an exceedingly told me he had a friend coming from wherever they went, so that they were poor, miserable sort of place, not suit- Denmark, who was suffering from actually frightened to leave the house. able for a gentleman who was suffer- severe skin disease, who wished to put He followed me for hours together, and ing from a mortal disease. I had told himself under my care in my house. I made my life an actual burden. He also him previously in my consulting room asked him the name of his friend; he followed my wife and my servants – I that his only chance was to go into a said Captain Ohlsen, and that he was don’t know the names of my servants – properly constituted hospital. There a Dane. I said I could not take him into he followed me to my patients’ houses, is a private hospital kept by a lady, my house; he said perhaps I could take and he has waited till I have come out, Mrs. Marmade [Mahomed] – I have him into some private hospital. He said and then followed me again. About this no interest whatever in that hospital he had heard of a private hospital in time I was attending upon Lord Lytton; – I advised him to move, and he was York Place, and he asked me for a card. one wet Sunday afternoon I took a cab removed shortly afterwards. I attended He said his friend was a wealthy man, from my door to Stratford Place – the him daily, sometimes twice a day, up perfectly capable of paying for advice. prisoner [Le Grand] was standing at the to the February, 1888, when he died. I gave him a card and wrote on it the corner of Harley Street and Cavendish I attended him gratuitously the whole name and address of Mrs. Marmade, Square – he took a hansom cab, and time On 16th February, 1889, I received 28, Baker Street. A lady named Bates followed mine – I went to Stratford

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott Place, and held a consultation, and a public trial, which I did not shrink Grand, who wished to heighten that then I went to Sir James Paget about a from doing. I saw a card produced by fear and wallow in it as long as he bulletin to be issued next morning as to Grandy at the police court; I gave that could. Lord Lytton’s condition. After staying card to a man I believe to be Grandy, The following is Dr. Morris’ testi- some time, I went to Bryanston Square, who left the name of Ohlsen. I after- mony as he’s being cross-examined by Sir George Campbell’s house, where wards received this letter of 21st April. Le Grand. Lord Lytton was staying. I dismissed Demay, whose lawyer had not You menaced me with a stick at my cab, and the prisoner dismissed yet arrived, then proceeded to cross- the corner of Bryanston Square – you his, and stood waiting at the corner examine the witness. The transcripts were probably ten or fifteen yards of the square. I went in and saw Lord only record the replies, from which the away at the time you ran towards me Lytton – it was a matter of considerable questions must be inferred. with the stick in the air – my servants importance – he noticed something was My friend occupied a room at the top are both here – I believe they told amiss with me – I told him what had of the lady’s hospital; it had not a very about what happened to them – I saw occurred – I came out again, and hailed low roof – I was not unfaithful with you Miss Pratt when she was in Charles a passing hansom. Grandy rushed after in Bolsover Street, I swear absolutely – Street [sic-Charlotte Street]; I don’t my hansom, flourishing a stick; but as I did not come to see you twice a week know where she is – she was the nurse there was no other cab he could not at Bolsover Street for five months; that in charge of Mr. Hester at the time; follow. This persecution has occurred is absolutely untrue – I did not give you I have not seen her since he died – I constantly. To my knowledge I never in a fancy performing dog. have never seen you in Demay’s com- my life saw Demay till I saw her at the It was at this point that Grandy — pany outside the house – I did not see police station. I never had any conver- like Ted Bundy would do 90 years later you at 35, Charlotte Street – it has not sation with her such as has been sug- — stated he wished to defend himself been insinuated to me that you would gested. At last this persecution became and Mr. Keith Frith retired from the be a witness in the civil action against unbearable, and I went to Mr. Lewis, case. There is little doubt but that Le me – my consulting room is my back and then we went to Marlborough Grand’s intention was to intimidate parlour – I have seen you when I have Street. I may mention that the prisoner Dr. Morris and the other witnesses by come out into the hall to say good-bye followed me once to the police station, being the one to look them in the eye to patients – my solicitor has employed where I asked the inspector for protec- and question them. Seeing the fear in ex-Inspector Clarke to watch my house, tion against him. I showed him stand- Dr. Morris’ face as he relayed to the 8, Harley Street; his instructions were ing outside to the inspector; but the court the terrorizing impact Le Grand’s to find out about your character –I inspector said he could not protect me, actions had on his entire household no have employed detectives myself – I and the only thing was to go through doubt had an empowering effect on Le was obliged to have protection to keep

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 35 these people away from my front door, his shadow from October, 1888 until clothes of Le Grand, who at 6 feet, the police would not do it for me. June of 1889. In an earlier essay I mis- would have been considered exception- It would be quite interesting to takenly identified Hall as likely being ally tall by the standards of the day. learn what ex-Inspector Clarke and the one and the same as J. H. Batchelor, The press had a field day with other private detectives hired by Dr. but further research has shown beyond Hall, who came off as a bit slow in his Morris turned up in their investigation doubt that they are two separate testimony at the magistrate’s court. of Le Grand, and if this information individuals. Although he would emerge as the was handed over to the police, perhaps One day in October of 1888, Hall ‘comic relief’, he also gave us much of sparking suspicion of Le Grand as the found himself down and out in the the knowledge we have on Le Grand Whitechapel murderer, or supporting Strand, with no money or prospects and Demay. suspicion that had already began to for employment. He had been a com- James Hall, ‘who gave his evidence grow. mission agent in the Cattle Market at hesitatingly’13, had variously lived or Two of Dr. Morris’ servants, Nottingham, and previously appren- worked with Le Grand and Demay at Henrietta Simpson and Mary Gilbert, ticed as a grocer, but he ran afoul of the house in Charlotte Street, the office were called as witnesses to recount the law and had trouble finding work. in the Strand, the rooms at 3 York how Le Grand had kept the household He went into Le Grand’s office at 283, Place, Baker Street, and the office at in terror by pacing outside for hours, the Strand and inquired about a posi- 10 Agar Street, which Le Grand took following the doctor and his wife, chas- tion. Always willing to take advantage out after his short stint at 283, the ing after the doctor, and making gri- of a man in want, Le Grand gave him Strand. With all the knowledge Hall maces behind his back. According to food and clothes and a place to sleep must have possessed concerning Le Gilbert, Le Grand would stop pass- for the next eight months, having him Grand’s private affairs and his crimi- ersby, including the postman, and do all manner of work, but without any nal enterprise, it is no wonder he gave talk to them, no doubt telling them financial remuneration whatsoever. his evidence hesitatingly and told far how Morris had ‘ruined’ a woman. She Keeping him broke and dependent less than he knew. For instance, he also mentioned Le Grand had arrived would allow Le Grand to maintain con- stated that he had no idea whether or at their door one day accompanied by trol over him. We don’t yet know much not Le Grand and Demay slept in the another man, whom she recognized in about Hall, other than that by 1891 same room or not, nor was he aware the court as James Hall. he was working at the Polytechnic in if they ever passed as man and wife. James Hall could best be described Regent Street and that he must have The prosecutor, George Lewis, had fun as Le Grand’s ‘guy Friday’, working in been rather tall, as he fit into the with him.

13. The Illustrated Police News, June 8th, 1889.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott Lewis: What was your position at the no remuneration for his services, was When given some letters to look at, he defendant’s house? recalled. cautiously identified various ones as in Hall (after much pressing): I acted as Lewis (to the witness): Whose clothes the handwriting of Le Grand, Demay, manager, partly as servant, opening are you wearing? or himself. He stated Le Grand would the street door and looked after the (Laughter.) often dictate to him. books and the servants. Hall: Mr. Grandy’s. One day, Hall had been walking (Laughter.) Lewis: You wear them one day, and he past Dr. Morris’ house in Cavendish Lewis: What salary did you get? another? Square, when the son of ex-Inspector Hall: None. Hall: Yes. (Renewed laughter.) Clarke, presumably employed as one of Lewis: What did you live on? Le Grand (glaring fiercely at the wit- the PI’s watching Morris’ house, called Hall: Food. (Laughter.) I stopped there ness.): Didn’t I give you them? out “There goes the French Colonel’s without a salary because I could not Hall: Yes.15 man.” Hall relayed the story to Le get a better situation. (Laughter.) Amidst these embarrassing Grand, who then dictated a letter to Continuing his evidence, the witness exchanges and Hall’s obvious discom- him to the effect that as he [Hall] had said the male defendant also had an fort and reluctance at having to pro- been walking through the Square he office in a turning off the Strand. vide damning evidence against his was attacked by a ‘lot of ruffians’ who Lewis: What was the nature of the employer, and no doubt a refusal to had been planted there by an ‘eminent business carried on? admit any activity that might impli- physician’. Hall testified that, ‘Grandy Le Grand (with warmth): I object to my cate himself, a number of Le Grand’s said it might draw something out of private business being dragged into dark secrets were pulled into the light. him; meaning it might draw money.’ this case! Hall stated that Le Grand and Le Grand then attempted to have the The witness [Hall] said no business Demay lived at the Charlotte Street letter published in the Evening News, was done at the office.14 house until March, 1889 when they which had previously published his He didn’t fare much better when went to live full-time at 3 York Place, Packer tale, but they refused to publish recalled in front of the magistrate the Baker Street. Hall lived with them at the letter, as did the Star, which sug- following week. these addresses. At the trial, he stated gested they instead take legal action. James Hall, who last week created he could prove they lived as man and Thankfully, this further attempt to some amusement by saying that he wife; a bit of a back-peddle from his publicly discredit Dr. Morris had was in the employ of Grandy, but got timid testimony at Marlborough Street. failed.

14. Ibid. 15. The Illustrated Police News, June 15th, 1889.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 37 While being cross-examined the trial, Le Grand, while cross-exam- harshly by Le Grand, Hall dropped a For the ining Hall, asked if he had been with minor bombshell that was not picked another man to Kensington to obtain up by the prosecution, ‘I went with record, money from a servant girl under false you [Le Grand] to Cheney Gardens to pretenses. Hall denied the accusation, watch Justin McCarthy, and stopped James but was probably less than sincere. till two o’clock.’ Justin McCarthy was a The incident alluded to by Le journalist and Member of Parliament Hall was Grand was probably the following ‘Jack and although the reason is unclear the Ripper’ episode, reported in the why Le Grand and Hall kept these no angel Berrow’s Worcester Journal of March nightly vigils, it might suggest there 16th, 1889. is some truth in Le Grand’s claim that For the record, James Hall was no DEMANDING MONEY he was employed by the Times as part angel. He had gotten himself into some At the Central Criminal Court, before of the Parnell Commission. The pri- unspecified trouble in Nottingham Mr. Justice Mathew, William Hughes, vate detectives employed as part of which cost him a good position at the aged 45, an old soldier, was indicted the Commission — and there were cattle market, and from this ended up for feloniously sending a letter to many of them — worked closely with London, unable to secure any paying Emily Hopkins demanding money the police. This police connection, like position and forced to work for Le Grand with menaces, and without reasonable the one he had while employed with for room and board. It goes without and probable cause. Mr. Bodkin pros- the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, saying that Le Grand would not have ecuted. This case was one of a rather would have caused very serious prob- hired anyone who was not a criminal, extraordinary character. The prosecu- lems for the government should it nor should we doubt that Hall willingly trix was a domestic servant in a family become public that Le Grand was Jack aided his boss in criminal activities, in Kennington, and on the morning of the Ripper. While he was under inves- although there’s no reason to suspect the 16th of February, upon her going tigation for the Whitechapel Murders him in complicity of murder. At the downstairs in the morning, she saw a — an investigation that went on for Marlborough Street magistrate court, letter which had been pushed under the years — a strict code of secrecy must Hall was asked if he ‘knew that a young door, and which was addressed “To the have been firmly in place and strongly lady had been watched at Beckenham,’ Cook, indoors.” She read it, and found enforced, which might explain why Le which he denied. Most likely, he was that it contained a demand for 15s., to Grand’s name is absent from all known aware and was involved, and this was be sent to a particular address, and it police memoirs, in spite of the fact that Le Grand’s way of letting him know contained a threat that if the money he was a prime suspect. that mudslinging goes both ways. At was not sent the prosecutrix would be

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott treated in the same way as the women Justice Mathew sentenced the prisoner Grand in a wine shop on the Strand in Whitechapel had been by Jack the to five years’ penal servitude. called Short’s. Le Grand offered him £5 Ripper. The prisoner was an entire This story has Le Grand written up front and another £5 before he went stranger to the prosecutrix, and she at all over it. It will be remembered that ‘into the box’ if he agreed to say he saw once communicated the discovery of the constable about whom Le Grand a certain gentleman and lady walking the letter to her mistress, and the police wrote a letter of complaint in 1887 arm-in-arm down a ‘certain street’. At were called in to discover the writer was named William Hughes; whether first it seems he agreed but later had a of the letter. Something appeared to or not the constable and the man sen- change of heart and told the police what have been known of the prisoner at the tenced for writing these threatening he knew. Being incapable of accepting address where the money was to have Ripper letters were one and the same the slightest bit of responsibility for his been sent. Some violet-coloured ink, of remains to be determined. What is of own actions, Le Grand laid the blame the same kind as that with which the interest here is that Le Grand seems at Hall’s feet, stating, “You introduced letter had been written, was also found to have knowledge of the affair that me to Lynch, and Lynch introduced at the prisoner’s lodging, and there would implicate Hall. The fact that Le that man Walker, who of course will was also some evidence that the letter Grand might also be implicated would be the cause of my case before the jury was in the handwriting of the prisoner. have been of no importance to him, being refused, and me found guilty … The prisoner made a long statement to since he knew that Hall (like Hughes) that would not have happened if Lynch the jury in answer to the charge, the would deny the accusation, but would had not introduced me to Walker.” first part of which was mainly to deny be suitably intimidated by the threat Le Grand then tried to get Hall in that he had written the letter. The jury of exposure. trouble with the law, accusing him of without any hesitation found the pris- Returning to the trial, Hall testi- stealing jewelry, money and clothes. oner “Guilty.” Mr. Bodkin informed fied that he had introduced Le Grand to Rightfully frightened of Le Grand, Hall the Court that there were several other another William, surnamed Lynch, and went immediately to Sergeant James, charges of a similar kind, where the Le Grand hired him on. On Le Grand’s and one can only wonder at what prisoner had made demands of the instructions, Lynch found a man who things Hall said, but it was around same kind upon servant girls. In one agreed to give false evidence in court for this time that Le Grand seems to have case he had seduced the girl, and had money. This was a trick Le Grand had fallen under strong suspicion of being ever since made her life miserable by employed for years and often with suc- the Whitechapel murderer. the demands he had made upon her, cess, such as in the case of the Berner While Le Grand was attempt- and he had obtained from her money Street conspiracy; but he was not to be ing to procure the testimony of Alfred and articles of jewellery by threatening so lucky this time out. The man Lynch Walker, Demay was doing likewise her with exposure and otherwise. Mr. found was Alfred Walker, who met Le with a woman named Ellen Max, alias

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 39 Allene Williams, whom she had known I recollected the conversation we have like Max, Groser’s evidence had to be since coming to London in 1880. Like relative to a doctor, a medical man interpreted even though she’d lived in Demay, Max was French, although in – you spoke of £5 down and £5 after- London for seven years. spite having lived in London for nine wards – on one occasion when I was ill years, her testimony had to be inter- I sent to you for some money, and you Vallet Brown (Interpreted): preted. Her testimony was quite short sent me 5s. – you did not come to see my I lived at 35, Charlotte Street, last and is presented here in full from the husband when he was ill, before he was July and August, when the prisoners Old Bailey transcript. taken to the madhouse; you never came lived there as man and wife, he as Mr. to see him – 5s. was all you gave me. Grandy and she as Madame Demay – I Allene Williams (Interpreted): left there at the end of October – when I have known Demay nine years – two Cross-examined by Grandy: they were living together men visited or three months ago she called on me You were in the parlour at 35, Charlotte Demay; Grandy knew it, and sometimes where I lived, at 23, Bolsover Street – Street, when I came to the house – you he went into the kitchen, sometimes he I had not seen her for perhaps four or were not present at the conversation; went away, and sometimes he waited. five months before – she sent me a letter Madame said she wanted to speak to asking me to call on her, and I went to me alone, and sent you away, and you Cross-examined by Grandy: her place, 35, Charlotte Street, and she heard nothing of it – my real name is I am not married – I call myself Mrs. asked me to come to the Court and say Ellen Max – I was earning my living Brown, it looks better – I am German – that I had seen a doctor at her place, like Madame, not at the present time. Brown is a nickname, my real name is and that I had heard the doctor prom- Minnie Groser – I have been in England ise her marriage – she promised me £5 Re-examined: seven years – I have been doing what if I came to the Court; I said no, because Grandy was living with Madame. your wife did for a living – I am an I did not want her to tell lies – she came unfortunate; I did the same before I twice to my place afterwards to ask me Another interesting piece of testi- came to England – I am twenty-five the same thing again – I gave her the mony presented here in full comes years old – I have not been living with same reply on each occasion. from Minnie Groser, alias Mrs. Vallet a man who was taken up for cheques Brown, a German prostitute who lived – I did not bring with me a Japanese Cross-examined by Demay: at 35 Charlotte Street from July to the man to 35, Charlotte Street; he kept me Our conversation was in French – end of October, 1888. As with Ellen there – I went with him to Liverpool, you asked me if I remembered having Max, her testimony was kept very then spent six weeks in the country, and been many times to your place in short, which is unfortunate given all came back to where you were living – I Bolsover Street – you did not ask me if she must have seen and heard. Also did not go on the streets during the time

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott the Japanese man kept me – after he Police-Sergeant William James of D left I went on the streets again – I was Division, the man who from 1887 on Cross-examined by Demay: not turned out of the house – I stayed would be the thorn in Le Grand’s side, I was present at Marlborough Street two months afterwards – the Japanese and who would almost lose his life to Le Police court when Grandy charged a man gave me £50. Grand in 1891. His testimony is impor- woman with stealing his watch and tant and is also presented in full. chain – she was discharged. Cross-examined by Demay: When I was going to leave your house William James (Police Sergeant D): Cross-examined by Grandy: every man I brought home you called I have known Demay seven or eight I have been directed by my superior a blackguard – I don’t remember any- years, and Grandy three years, or officer to attend the Court when cases body coming and breaking a window. a little more, as Charles Grandy or you have been in have been heard – I Charles Grand, and he is better known did not know you had an office; I have A crucial point about Ms. Groser’s as the French Colonel – in March, 1887, heard you had – I attended as a wit- testimony is that she seems to be stat- he was in custody at the Marlborough ness at Bow Street when you appeared ing that Le Grand and Demay lived Street Police-court, and Mr. Newton, on a summons, at the instance of together at 35 Charlotte Street in July the magistrate, directed me to make Batchelor, for assaulting him in the and August, 1888, but not after that special inquiries about him – he was Strand – Mr. Bridge dismissed the point. Groser left the household in remanded twice, and on the last occa- summons – I knew nothing about the October, and by the time James Hall sion Mrs. Demay came to the Court, case, I only knew your character – I came long, Grandy was back living in and stated in her evidence, in my hear- gave evidence – I know Planette, the the Charlotte Street house. It’s curious ing, that she was living with Grandy woman you charged with stealing your that Le Grand’s taking rooms elsewhere – Demay has been getting her living watch and chain; she was discharged coincided with the start of the Ripper as a prostitute – since January, 1886, – she is not a friend of mine – I did not murders. As a matter of side interest, I have seen Grandy in her company bring her to Bow Street – I spoke to her it’s also worth noting that a French as hundreds of times, I may say – with the there – I know Mr. Ward – I believe you well as a German interpreter was on exception of five or six weeks, when he are living on prostitutes – I have seen hand for this two-day trial, suggesting was employed in Great Tower Street in you continually with Demay; you have that Israel Schwartz’s non-appearance 1886 at 30s. a week, and discharged for walked Regent Street, and molested at the inquest into Elizabeth Stride’s incompetency [sic], I have not known other women, and charged them at the murder would not have been due to his him in any employment – I have seen Police-court, and all to clear them from need for an interpreter. him in company with other prostitutes that street in order to have the whole The final witness at the trial was hundreds of times – he lives on them. street clear for that woman with you.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 41 It is unfortunate that the Old The ploy did not work and she was sen- Bailey transcripts were truncated and tenced to eighteen month’s hard labor, not all the evidence was recorded. A with Le Grand getting a stiff five years further statement by James as to Le penal servitude. Grand’s character was reported in Once again, luck of some sort was the Illustrated Police News of July 6th, on Le Grand’s side, and his sentence 1889. would soon be drastically reduced. A Sergeant Jameson [sic] stated that report in the Northern Echo of June Grandy had for some time been engaged 28th, entitled ‘A Judge’s Mistake’, gives in trumping up charges against vari- the details. ous persons. In one case he found a At the Old Bailey yesterday after- letter from a Manchester gentleman in noon, an application was made in the the possession of one of the prostitutes case of the man Grandet [sic] and the living in the house. He stole the letter, woman Demay who on Wednesday were and demanded £500 from the writer. sentenced to five years’ penal servitude The female acted under his terrorism. and eighteen month’s imprisonment The Recorder said a more dangerous it respectively for attempted blackmail. class of offence could not well be imag- The Recorder said he had since found ined, and the prisoners had done all in begs the he had no power to sentence the man to their power to effect the ruin of the pros- penal servitude, and altered the pun- ecutor in this case, but happily without question ishment to two years’ imprisonment. success. Up to this point, Le Grand has As a last ditch effort, a back-ped- received such easy sentences that it dling Demay offered the weak whether begs the question whether someone explanation that there was a Dr. in authority is looking out for him, or Morris look-alike walking someone in if money isn’t being passed. While Le around London imperson- Grand was by no means destitute, he ating him, and that she had authority is would not have been able to afford fallen victim to this man, such a service, so again the question and therefore her summons looking out of a benefactor is raised. Another very against Dr. Morris was nothing more distinct possibility is that, in his capac- than the result of mistaken identity! for him ity as a pimp who made a practice of

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott gathering information against well- Following his brief statement to knowledge that he had been employed to-do men for the purposes of blackmail, the magistrate, Lewis ignored the by Mr. Soames [editor of the Times], he may have been able to maneuver accusation and called James Hall back nor do I believe it – I do not know that his way into lighter sentences or mere to the stand. However, months later at he had been shadowing Pigott and Mr. fines by threat of exposure. Le Grand’s the trial, Mr. Lewis would be forced to Labouchere; I do not believe it; Mr. intimate knowledge of and connec- admit that he had twice met Le Grand Soames is a highly honourable solici- tion to important men must be kept previously. Although he was the pros- tor; but if the prisoner was employed in mind when considering the secrecy ecuting attorney, he was called as a by the Times it only shows what an surrounding his identification with the witness and examined by Le Grand’s escape I had in his coming and want- Ripper murders. soon-to-be-fired attorney, Mr. Keith ing employment from me; however, I Frith. should have refused to have anything Le Grand & The Parnell I have seen Grandy at my office, to do with him…when I first saw him Commission not in connection with this case, but as I did not understand that he was a pri- The first mention we see of Le Grand’s a private detective in connection with vate detective; I only understood that alleged connection with the Parnell the Parnell case – I did not recognize as a perfect stranger he brought his Commission comes from the June 9th him until he put the question to me at card; I had never heard of such a man edition of Lloyd’s Weekly Journal: Marlborough Street – I then remem- – he came with Scanlan, who brought a Grand was proceeding to make a bered him coming to my office dressed letter of introduction – I did not know statement when Mr. Hannay stopped in a fur coat, in company with a man Scanlan as a private detective; I had him and told him that he would have named Scanlan, who, I believe, had heard the name, and I believe there an opportunity of saying what he liked been in the police, and who brought was a man of that name in the Police after the evidence had been taken. He me a letter of introduction from some- force – I employed Mr. Clark[e]; he is (Grand), then pointing at Mr. Lewis, body connected with the Irish Times, a superannuated inspector of police exclaimed in a very excited manner, “I asking me to employ him as a detective, in possession of a pension…I cannot have worked for that man in connec- which I refused – I remember also on fix the date when Grandy came and tion with the Parnell commission, and a later occasion Grandy coming alone asked for employment – it was before I have papers to prove it now in my and pressing me to employ him as a the inquiry commenced into the letter pocket. I challenge him to deny it.” detective, alleging that he could give part of the Parnell case; some little time Mr. Lewis (to the magistrate): I me very wonderful information, and before Pigott’s examination, which was can only tell your worship that the stating that he had great facilities; in February last. statement the man makes is an abso- I refused – he never was employed by Mr. Lewis’ statement is very lute invention. me in any way – it did not come to my interesting and must be considered

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 43 carefully. It seems that Le Grand to have been employed in the Parnell stating in his evidence that “with the made two visits to his office, the most Commission was purely emotional exception of five or six weeks, when he recent in January or early February, and not based on personal knowledge. was employed in Great Tower Street in 1889, and at some point prior to this Although Lewis would certainly be con- 1886 at 30s. a week, and discharged for in the company of a private detective sidered a more credible character than incompetency [sic], I have not known named Scanlan. On the first visit, Le Grand, he would have more to lose him in any employment.” Another pos- with Scanlan, Le Grand did little or no by admitting a previous professional sibility is that James was aware of Le talking and the subject of the Parnell relationship with the man he was pros- Grand’s work with the WVC, and pos- Commission never came up, but on his ecuting than Le Grand would have to sibly with the Parnell Commission, but second visit, alone, Le Grand identified gain by it being proved he’d worked on was encouraged by superiors to keep himself as a “private detective in con- the Parnell Commission. the matters silent in light of Le Grand’s nection with the Parnell Commission” As mentioned earlier, James Hall criminal activity. Indeed, a letter to with “wonderful information” to share, testified that he accompanied Le Grand the press possibly written by James although he did not mention that he on a nightly vigil to watch Irish MP indicates knowledge of Le Grand’s vig- was employed by Mr. Soames at that Justin McCarthy, an event that may or ilance work, so the fact that this never time. It is curious that Le Grand did may not have been connected with the came out at trial might indicate the not mention his position with the Parnell Commission; it just as well may police were protecting themselves from Vigilance Committee and flash a copy have been in preparation for another controversy. of the Oct. 4th Evening News in Mr. blackmail scheme. Hall could have It might also be worth pointing Lewis’ face, as he certainly would have been recalled, at Le Grand’s insistence, out that according to the testimony been familiar with the popular Packer to confirm his work on the Commission, of Mr. George Lewis and of Sergeant story, and might very well have been and that he was not might suggest it James, Le Grand could be seen around impressed by Le Grand’s involvement. was a lie; but likewise, Sergeant James late 1888 wearing a ‘fur coat’ and a None of this tells us if Le Grand neither confirmed nor denied the ‘watch and chain’, reminiscent of the did work in some capacity on the claim, or even offered an opinion on it, man George Hutchinson claimed to see Parnell matter, either in employment which one might have expected some- with Ripper Victim, Mary Kelly, on the with a newspaper, or directly for Mr. one so familiar with Le Grand’s move- morning of her death on November 9th. Soames as he stated, but it clearly was ments to have done. However, James not something he invented in the court was obviously not as well informed as The Man Scanlan room, so there may be some level of he thought, as he was not aware that It will come as no surprise at this truth to it. It should be noted that Mr. Le Grand had earned an income from juncture of our study to learn that Le Lewis’ dismissal of Le Grand’s claim the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, Grand’s associate, Mr. Scanlan, was

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott a crook. Mr. Lewis thought the name flat. There she saw the prisoner, who might know if it was of any use to her. familiar and that he may have been in asked her if she was Mrs. Goldsmidt. He said if she did not do it it would be the police force at some point, which She said she was that person; when he to her detriment. She still refused, and might prove true, but by 1888 he was a said there had been a mistake, as the they parted. He said he was acting for a private inquiry agent involved in crim- person he wanted was an elderly lady. third party, and would call on her next inal activity. As the following report He went away. On Sunday as she was morning, when he should know more of from the Ipswich Journal of May 11, going to the Zoological Gardens she the subject. He again said he had been 1888, proves, he was virtually a carbon saw the prisoner opposite the mansion. directed to watch her, but if she would copy of Le Grand. She walked up and down waiting for give him £5 he would cease the watch- ALLEGED ATTEMPTED an omnibus, and the prisoner walked ing, although he would have to stay EXTORTION up and down also. When she got into there, as he should be checked. Next A tall man with a long beard giving an omnibus he hailed a cab and drove time she received him at her rooms, the name of Michael John Scanlan, after her, and the cab stopped when- Detective-sergeant Record having previ- described as a private inquiry officer, ever the omnibus stopped. On arriving ously secreted himself behind a curtain has been charged at the Marylebone at the Gardens she saw that the pris- in the drawing-room, she told the pris- Police Court, London, with attempting oner was still following her. She left the oner she was advised not to part with to obtain from Mrs. Flora Goldsmidt, Gardens about half-past six o’clock and her money on his terms, and that as he of 1, B Flat, Hyde Park Mansions, £5 returned home and found the prisoner was prepared to be false to his employ- by means of fraudulent pretences. Mr. again opposite the mansions, he having ers he might be false to her. He entered Freke Palmer appeared to prosecute, in the interim changed his clothes. She into an explanation and asked some and Mr. E. Baker defended. In opening saw no more of him that day, but she questions. In the course of his remarks the case Mr. Palmer said that although received a letter subsequently by post he said he thought it was a lady who the charge was at present only one of from the prisoner. It suggested her had been living with her husband who attempted fraud, there would be a fur- giving him a reward for the informa- was employing his firm to have her ther charge of attempted extortion from tion he had, and offered to meet her (the prosecutrix) watched. The prisoner Mrs. Goldsmidt. Mrs. Goldsmidt was at the Royal Oak railway station. She became abusive, and she was afraid, then examined by Mr. Palmer, and kept the appointment, and went to the and then Detective Record came in. Mr. said she was divorced from her hus- Royal Oak, accompanied by Detective- Marsham granted a remand, refusing band last year, and a decree nisi had sergeant Record. The prisoner asked bail. been obtained. On Saturday last she her for £5. She objected to giving him Although we have a good fix on received a communication from her ser- the money until she had received the some of Le Grand’s accomplices, such vant, and went out in the landing of her information he said he had, so that she as Scanlan and Hall, it is regrettable

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 45 that more is not yet known about J. authorities literally from the moment has taken place since July, 1889, had H. Batchelor, who accompanied him he stepped out of prison until the day given rise to hopes that the so-called in his Berner Street ‘investigations’. only five months later when the police “Jack the Ripper” had been mercifully There were a surprising number of succeeded in putting him back behind removed from the district. We have of Batchelors living in London at the bars for the longest stretch of his life. late published several theories con- time, and although he has not been In that short space of time Le Grand cocted by ingenious persons to account identified with certainty, a likely can- committed several felonies, forcing for the disappearance of the miscreant. didate is James Batchelor, as an ex-po- the question of how this was possible The London police, we believed, were liceman, but research is ongoing. It is if he was under surveillance. And why satisfied in their own minds that the amusing to learn from Sgt. James that was he under surveillance in the first Whitechapel murderer had been cap- even Batchelor could not escape Le place? There were many criminals who tured and sentenced to fifteen years’ Grand’s wrath, he too being attacked had served longer sentences for far penal servitude for another offence. in the open street and feeling com- worse crimes being released daily to They were unable to connect the convict pelled to summon Le Grand to court, disappear once again into the masses. with the murders, though it appears although the summons was dismissed, What separated Le Grand from these that they were persuaded that they had with no traces of it yet discovered in common criminals is that the police the man.’16 the contemporary papers. had come to believe that he might be That this article refers to Le Grand the most sought after villain to come is made evident by more detailed arti- A Madman’s Work along in their lifetimes — Jack the cles of similar verbiage that would Le Grand disappeared into prison and Ripper. come out a year later; the ‘fifteen years would serve his full two years. The Because the police were trying penal servitude’ mentioned here is evi- census, taken on April 5th, 1891, records to keep their investigation a secret, dently a misprint for ‘five years penal him as Chas. C. Grandy, age 27, born there has been very little press cover- servitude’, Le Grand’s original sen- in Denmark, estimated birth year age discovered thus far pertaining to tence. We will consider these and other 1864, occupation, general labourer. their suspicions against Le Grand, but statements later, but first we must The birth year and age are 10 years the first suggestion came about while marvel at the amount of mischief Le out, but there’s no question this is our Le Grand was still serving his time for Grand was able to get up to in the five man. the Morris affair. The Western Mail short months he was at liberty. Le Grand became a free man in of February 14th, 1891 reported that, In October of 1891 Le Grand would June of 1891, but was shadowed by ‘The fact that no Whitechapel murder find himself back in police court to be

16. Discovered by Mark Ripper and posted to casebook.org in 2010.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott followed in November by two trials at that the previous tenant of his top letter was addressed to Mrs. Taplin the Old Bailey. One charge was for back room was a Mr. Lushington. The and not Charles, but it was written in forgery in which he worked with a rent was 6s. a week and he gave the red ink and unsettled the lady so much number of accomplices to forge checks name of Grant, stating he was receiv- that she did not reply and refused to upon the London & Westminster Bank. ing money from a lawsuit. He spent see Le Grand when he called at her This failed endeavor was a collabora- most of the day out and would always house. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Taplin tion between Le Grand and career leave his door unlocked and various met Le Grand in the street. forger, Edwin (alias Everard) Smith, writings lying about, along with great “Have you received my letter, who went to prison in 1889 for a sim- sums of cash and gold. While he was in madam?” he asked, to which she we must marvel at the amount of mischief Le Grand was able to get up to in the five short months he was at liberty ilar offense. It’s possible the two men his room the door was always locked. replied, “Yes.” “Why did you not come came to know each other in prison, Apparently, a good part of Le up and see me?” he wanted to know. although Smith was released almost a Grand’s time in his room was spent She told him she did not think it year before Le Grand. writing letters. One such letter was proper and that he should wait to see Immediately after his release from written to a Mrs. Elizabeth Taplin, Mr. Taplin. It’s possible that Le Grand prison in late June, Le Grand took a the wife of Charles Taplin, a solicitor’s had designs on Mrs. Taplin and she room at the house of Mrs. Desmond at clerk whom Le Grand had done some sensed this, or perhaps she was aware 83 Kennington Road. He was unknown business with. The letter requested of his reputation through her husband. to Mrs. Desmond and her daughter, that Mrs. Taplin forward to him his Whatever the case, she showed her Annie, so it’s not clear why he settled portmanteau, his dog, and other husband the letter before handing it to at that address, although it’s known belongings. It is not clear why the their solicitor.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 47 Presumably, Le Grand left his dog this case. You may be advised to apply other ladies, for the purpose that you (whom one is tempted to imagine was to the police for protection. But if you do do not pay, I will dash your brains out, a Great Dane) and belongings to Mr. you will find that their protection is not and you will then serve the others as an Taplin when he went into prison in much better than that of your lapdog. example of what they have to expect if 1889. It is interesting that a solicitor’s If the English detectives cannot even they do not pay up. If you feel disposed clerk would bear such a responsibility. apprehend the man who killed upon to comply with my request, please then While Le Grand’s forgery accom- the open streets of Whitechapel seven to insert in the Daily Telegraph the fol- plice, Edwin Smith, was overseeing the or eight women, then, indeed, their lowing advertisement:- ‘(5) A. M. M. London and Westminster Bank scam, detective faculties must be limited; in will comply;’ and an address will be Le Grand was busy with a personal fact, hell should not protect you from forwarded to you for which to address scheme of his own. my hand if I do not get the sum I have the money, or it may be that it may be Le Grand had selected three demanded. Understand – I am firmly called for, only mark well that treach- elderly, well-to-do women upon whom determined to have it, or to have your ery on your part will be punished with he would unleash a campaign of terror life as the value for it. If you estimate instant death, as I am well prepared in hopes that they would pay out the your life so low that you would not pay for such an emergency. I am sorry to nose to save their own lives. His method £500 for, then I must leave you to your trouble you in this way, but I must have consisted of writing each a letter in red own reflection. Do not believe that it is the money. Hoping you will be sensible ink, followed by a postcard, demanding my intention to dash your brains out enough to give the required reply, I they pay him or die. The letter read as with a revolver – that would, indeed, remain, Madam, yours truly, A. M. M. follows: be madman’s work. No, Madam, a thin Your last day for payment the 24th of “Madam,- Take notice. If you do cake of dynamite placed between some July.” not pay me within seven days the sum moist fulminate of silver, the whole All of the letters were in red ink, of £500, I dash your brains out as sure placed between the doormat and the with the exception of a paragraph as you read this note, by a dynamite floor upon which you have to pass, or written at the top of the letter, in black explosion. I stand in imminent want under your seat in the church, or even ink, that read: “Madam. – If you have of the said sum, and I must have it, under your cushion of your carriage, not the sum I demand at hand, then or perish in the attempt. Remember, will immediately explode the moment inform me when you can pay it. I know Madam, that desperate men, or, rather, the weight of your body comes upon that you are not poor and you cannot a man brought to despair by the vil- it, and dash you to pieces. I intend to feel such a paltry sum. No. 5. Please lainy of a woman, will do desperate do what I say. I have been ruined by insert the above number in your adver- things, and, indeed, a woman shall pay a woman, and a woman shall pay for tisement.” According to the Times, this for it. Be careful how you proceed in it. I have sent a letter like this to nine marginalia was “important to connect

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott the prisoner with sending the letter as you would pity me – to see that I am of liaising with Demay on Bolsover he was in the habit of using black and come to an act like this, which is highly Street. He would have appreciated the red ink.” criminal, and void of all human feel- black irony that his primary target Contrary to the assurances of ing. I knew you once. But enough.’ held the title of Balsover and the name the writer, only three women, and It would seem that Le Grand and of Cavendish. I suspect it was for this not nine, received such a terrifying Balsover had enjoyed some acquain- reason he chose to sign his threat let- letter. All three of these elderly, well- tance in the past, but not one so close ters with a combination of Dr. Morris’ to-do women were neighbors living on that his remarks would bring him to initials (M.A.M.). It was a game of ‘con- Grosvenor Place. This made sense as her mind. There’s no reason to doubt nect the dots’ he was playing with the it would allow Le Grand to keep watch that there was some sincerity in his authorities, whom he clearly held in on all three at one time. The three words, particularly in the description very low regard. women of Grosvenor Place targeted by of himself as ‘void of all human feeling.’ The obvious reference to Jack the Le Grand were: While it is hard to imagine anyone with Ripper in the letter should not go with- Elizabeth Mary Baldock, an elderly a conscience causing such grief to inno- out comment. Witness testimony at the lady of means living at #8, described cent elderly women, it’s all the more trial proved that Le Grand had spent as a ‘great invalid.’ Upon reading the disturbing to consider that a man could much time crafting his letter through letter she became ill with fright. bring himself to hatch such a wicked many drafts, some witnessed by his Lady Jessel at #7, the widow of the scheme upon someone he apparently landlady’s daughter. What jumps out former Master of the Rolls. holds in some measure of respect. And is his attribution to the Ripper of ‘7 or Baroness Balsover at #13, the considering that explosives were found 8’ murders. What reads like a casual mother of Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, in his room upon his arrest, there’s statement from someone with no real Member of Parliament. little doubt that Le Grand intended to knowledge of the crimes was written The answer to why these women make good on his promises of death. and rewritten in every one of the letters, were specifically chosen seems to Tantalizing the police by suggest- and therefore quite intentional. It’s as lie in the letter Le Grand sent to the ing an acquaintance with the Baroness though he couldn’t resist bragging how Baroness Balsover. Identical in all was not the end of Le Grand’s ‘little the Ripper outwitted the police but at regards except for one, the letter con- games’; it would not have escaped his the same time distanced himself from tained the following curious sentiment attention that Dr. Malcolm Alexander the murders by making the extra effort – ‘I hope you will consider my request. Morris, the man whom he blamed of offering ‘7 or 8’ instead of one or the It may be that one day I may be able to (along with PS James) for sending him other, or no number at all. This actu- pay it back to you, only I must have it away to prison, lived on Cavendish ally detracts from the threat value of now. If you knew who I am, I feel sure Square and was accused by Le Grand the letters by relieving the reader of

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 49 any suspicion that the author might be fact that a four-year old letter would Paris saying that he’d being stay- the Ripper himself. come so quick to mind proves that Le ing there for a number of months and The true mystery about the Grand had been under constant inves- there was no need to keep the room for blackmail scheme is why Le Grand tigation and suspicion and suggests he him. Whether or not Le Grand went to attempted it at all. Contrary to his may also have been suspected of send- Paris or not isn’t known for sure, but statements of desperation and desti- ing the Jack the Ripper letters, or at he didn’t stay long if he did. In early tution, he had money pouring in from least investigated as the penman. September the police did not know fraud and laundering. In fact, had it The police were keen to get Le where Le Grand had gone, though not been for the investigation of the Grand back behind bars as quickly as they must have felt certain it was any- blackmail letters, the money capers possible, and those who suspected him where but Brighton. To flush him out, might not have been discovered for a of the Ripper crimes must have been Sergeant James shadowed a messen- long time, if at all. It’s doubtful he had quite anxious to prevent him from ger boy used by Le Grand in hopes that any real hope that any of the women committing another murder, or at least he could be led to the criminal. It was would pay up, and the explosives in his capture him in the act, which would a move anticipated by the cunning Le possession suggest the possibility he have been the only means of securing Grand, who by now had lost all sense was hoping they wouldn’t so he could a conviction. Unfortunately, their zeal of discretion and self-preservation, and enjoy watching a human being explode led to sloppiness and Le Grand was instead gave into his notorious rage in front of their family and friends. soon onto the fact that he was being and murderous instincts. The letters achieved their aim in watched and followed. On September 3rd a letter arrived terrifying the women but failed in elic- In early August, Detective- at Tottenham Court Road Police iting any money, and they wasted no Sergeant William Williamson called Station addressed to Police Sergeant time in contacting the police. Le Grand at 83 Kennington Road in disguise as James. It was in printed characters then followed up with a postcard inti- a tipsy man and inquired about Le and read: mating his suspicion that they’d gone Grand, asking if he was still offering Hyde Park Scoundrel, do not let against his wishes and contacted the music lessons. Annie Desmond, the me see you in my way again. I could see authorities and reminded them of their landlady’s daughter, mentioned the you yesterday, although your detective fate if they didn’t make good with the visitor to Le Grand who wasted no Smart could commit perjury when well money. Remarkably, the police imme- time in packing his luggage and leav- bribed; you dog, you could not see me. diately satisfied themselves that it was ing, telling the girl that he was going Be careful, and do not come in my way; Le Grand sending the letters by com- to Brighton. She kept his room for him for, sure as this is written by me, the paring the handwriting to his 1887 until nine days later when she received man whom you have injured by your letter to Commissioner Warren. The a postcard from Le Grand postmarked crime of perjury, I dash your brains out

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott the moment you come near me. I will James upon his approach. Smith, the platform for the train to roll see your heart blood before they get me whom the policeman did not recognize, in, Le Grand got his hands loose again by your perjury. My hand is used ran and made good his escape, but Le and attempted to throw Sergeant to firearms, and by heaven I shall not Grand was not so fortunate. James James under the wheels of the train. miss you when I get you in my sight. later made notes of his conversation Fortunately, James got his footing and As if this wasn’t brazen enough, Le with Le Grand at the station and on saved himself. On the train, the follow- Grand also sent a letter to Sir Edward the train and testified to the following ing conversation occurred. Bradford, Warren’s successor as Chief exchange: “You scoundrel! It was my inten- Commissioner of Police, threatening “Grand, consider yourself in tion to push you under the train; I to burn down buildings if he didn’t call custody.” would not mind dying too (or ‘I would his men off the hunt. The signs were “What for?” not mind doing it’, according to some “You scoundrel! It was my intention to push you under the train” clear that Le Grand was not in his right “For sending letters to ladies sources). You, as a clever detective, mind and if not captured soon would demanding money and threatening to could not catch me; I have seen you likely make good on his threats of murder them.” many a time – when I sent a boy from murder and destruction. Fortunately, “You dirty scoundrel! This is your the messenger company to the bank in Detective James Holder in company work, you who have received £50 from Victoria Street, I saw you, I was in the with Sergeant William James picked Morris to put me away before. If I had churchyard; and you, the gentleman up his scent and on September 26th seen you I would have blown your detective, you b---- fool, you could have tracked Le Grand to the Maiden train brains out. You dirty dog! You are good seen me; I saw you in Hyde Park fol- station. The encounter almost cost at perjury when you are well bribed. I lowing the poor little boy, you b---- fool, James his life. shall soon be out of this, and then look and you could not see me.” Le Grand was with Edwin Smith, out. I will not shoot you, I will put about “Yes, that is what you said in the his co-conspirator in various money six inches of steel into your back.” letter you sent me,” replied James. frauds, and recognized Sergeant As the men were waiting on “Me send you a letter?”

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 51 “Yes” station, Le Grand was holding a bag. arrest. When Le Grand regained his “Ah, yes; that will be my line of Detective James Holder of J Division composure, he asked the inspector defence; if any letters have been sent, opened the bag and found an unloaded to read the warrant again. Le Grand it was you, you dirty dog, who have revolver, a set of brass knuckles, a repeated after Moore the line, “With sent it; I will settle with you when I get cosh, some memoranda, and a metal intent to steal £500”, then, after a through this; and it is a good job you whistle he described as ‘not a police pause, he asked the ludicrous question, have got me now, as I was off to New whistle, but very similar.’ This whis- “Where was the money sent?” He then York on Monday.” tle was most likely a remnant from repeated the word ‘menace’ several Le Grand then shook his hand- Le Grand’s days with the Whitechapel times. Moore asked if he understood cuffs and said, “If I could only take Vigilance Committee, the patrolmen of the charge, to which Le Grand replied, these cuffs off I would take my hands which were all issued whistles. When “Yes, threats, “ and then added, “It is round your neck and strangle you, you Detective Holder showed Le Grand the lucky you have got me just now, as I dog, I would.” items in the bag, Le Grand replied, “I was off to America on Monday.” This This exchange is remarkable consid- got them for you b---- scoundrels, and may have been a true statement, as ering that Le Grand was spewing these meant to give it to you.” his pockets were filled with British, threats at a policeman and in front of Inspector Henry Moore made a French, and American currency. other officers and a detective. Sergeant midnight trek to the police station and James had no qualms admitting in court found himself face to face with Charles “RIPPER JACK’S” Trial that, knowing Le Grand’s character as Le Grand. Moore was only months Le Grand’s trial began on November he did, he was afraid of him. away from inheriting command over 16th, 1891, and for a while was every bit While Le Grand was detained at the Ripper investigation from Inspector the sensation as other notorious trials the station, his nearby bolt-hole at No. Frederick Abberline, who was retiring. of the day, such as that of Florence 1, The Oaklands, Acacia Road, Maiden, He began reading Le Grand the arrest Maybrick in 1889. It was fully covered was discovered and searched. Among the warrant, and as soon as he mentioned in newspapers all over the world, with items found was an ‘infernal machine’, Mrs. Baldock’s name, Le Grand fainted American papers hailing Le Grand as which was a homemade explosive device to the floor. This was a ploy he shared the ‘King of Blackmailers” and his trial rigged in a cigar box fitted with springs, with Liz Stride, who earned the nick- as ‘The Most Remarkable Case in the a patch of gunpowder, and two bottles name ‘Epileptic Annie’ for her propen- History of English Jurisprudence.’ of acid. Also present were items related sity to fake fainting spells in court. Le What made the trial remark- to the crimes of fraud, which led to the Grand later complained he had fainted able in the eyes of the press was not arrest of Edwin Smith. because he had not eaten, although only the charges placed against Le When arrested at the train only five hours had passed since his Grand but also his antics during the

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott proceedings. The News and Observer of the prostrate prisoner, in their efforts Since at least 1889, and possibly November 25th reported on Le Grand’s to restore him to consciousness, the earlier, police suspected Le Grand of final desperate act of rebellion against “French Colonel” suddenly struggled the Ripper murders, but were helpless authority. to his feet, hit a policeman between the to do anything about it except keep Shortly after the judge’s charge had eyes, knocking him sprawling, and then a watch on him and try to keep him been delivered, the prisoner, who evi- began as terrible a scene as was ever behind bars for other crimes. In 1906 dently had been under a strong nervous witnessed in an English court. The pris- a ‘well-known Scotland Yard detec- strain during the whole time the evi- oner fought like a maniac, hitting and tive’ remarked to the press that ‘It is dence had been taken, suddenly sprang biting the dozen policemen and war- easy to suspect a man. Frequently it is to his feet and then fell backward in a dens, who, for some time, were utterly not difficult to suspect the right man. fainting condition. “He has poisoned unable to overpower him. Screams, But unless there is an unbroken chain himself,” somebody cried in the court- yells, and the hoarse cries of the strug- of circumstances connecting the sus- room. Then there was a scene of great gling men filled the air. A number of pected person with the actual crime it confusion. Everybody seemed to spring ladies fainted, others rushed wildly for is both useless and harmful to make to his feet and to be desirous of seeing the combatants or for the doors, where, an arrest.’17 For this reason, secrecy the prisoner. The court-room, crowded for a few moments at least, to use an was of the utmost importance to the to the doors with friends and acquain- antiquated expression, “Bedlam seemed investigators as they pieced their case tances, the many aristocratic ladies to be let loose.” together. Much of the information they interested more or less in the trial of Judge Hawkins sentenced Le gathered must have come from Le the “French Colonel,” and jammed with Grand to 20 years hard labor for black- Grand’s numerous underworld associ- the usual audience of sensation lovers, mail and another seven years hard ates, and with so many witnesses and seemed to be a sea of surging humanity. labor for his fraud attempt, a very investigators in the know, total secrecy The court officers, in the meanwhile, severe and perhaps unprecedented would be little more than a pipe dream; did their utmost to restore order, and sentence for the crimes committed. By so the police would have had to depend Judge Hawkins loudly and repeatedly British law at the time, Le Grand, with upon the better sense of the press appealed to everybody to sit down. credit for good behavior, would have who would not be willing to risk the But this scene of uproar was as served less time with a life sentence. inevitable libel suit if they named Le nothing to what followed. While about Had the police finally succeeded Grand as the Ripper or even a suspect. a dozen policemen and a number of in putting Jack the Ripper behind bars The press as a whole did not let them prison wardens were bending over once and for all? down, although at least one paper, the

17. Nelson Evening Mail, January 4th, 1906

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 53 Quebec Saturday Budget, in their Nov. trial he reveals that at Le Grand’s “pri- 28th, 1891 edition, chose to play with vate house” his primary duty was to fire by reporting Le Grand’s trial under “clean his knives”…not the kitchen, nor the less-than-subtle headline of: the dishes, but his knives. Some brows “RIPPER JACK’S” PARD. must have been sweating at what Hall The “French Colonel” A Mystery would say next, but what he had said To London’s Police. had been for Le Grand’s benefit – to let The press weren’t the only ones during him know he had told the police all he the trial barely able to hold in what knew – and the rest of Hall’s testimony they knew. James Hall, much less echoed for the most part what he had amongst frightened than he had been in 1889, told the 1889 jury. proved a far more compliant witness. An anonymous letter sent to the the When asked under cross-examination Pall Mall Gazette following the trial how he came to know Le Grand, Hall and published in their November 26th evidence told the jury, ‘I first met the prisoner in edition delves even further beneath the Strand; I was in want – I did not the surface of the police investigation collected meet him in the street, I went to his and tells us that amongst the evidence office – I was very much down in the collected on Le Grand was nothing less on world and hungry – I did not ask him than a murder confession. for food and money; he gave me money Society may congratulate itself Le Grand to get food, for which I was very thank- that Charles Grande is in safe keep- ful – he gave me employment; that was ing for some fourteen years at least. was principally at his private house, where A correspondent who has come across I cleaned knives and so forth.’18 Grande in private life, so to speak, nothing This is a very telling statement, sends us the following note: - “The ‘King and was not an intentional slip on of Blackmailers,’ as I see the report- less than the part of Hall, who at the previous ers have christened Grande, is really a trial went into detail about his duties very mean and squalid creature. The a murder as clerk, head of staff, messenger, and ambitious coups which were general go-to guy, but here at the final revealed at the trial, and which confession.

18. My emphasis.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott have excited interest in him, were not nihil fere non tetigi. Latterly he seems ‘vigilance work’ a ‘few years’ before, his staple industry. He belongs to that to have gone ‘cracky’ with sheer wick- which would have been late 1888 degraded class against which the edness; for with all his show of knuck- when Le Grand was employed by the German Emperor launched his thun- le-dusters and pistols and personal Whitechapel Vigilance Committee. derbolt the other day. Some time before violence these clumsy pranks of letter- What the caution was over must the date of his last sentence but one writing to old ladies in red ink are a remain a matter for speculation, but for blackmailing, he had appeared in sad falling off from his pristine reputa- it could only have been important, and a police-court and provoked a magis- tion for almost devilish astuteness.” Le Grand must have been untouch- trate to an almost unjudicial warmth This carefully crafted letter must able to feel secure enough in pulling a of execration by a cowardly and brutal be read between the lines to be appre- revolver on a policeman without fear assault on one of the miserable women ciated. It was clearly written by some- of arrest. Perhaps the most explosive on whom he preyed.” one in the police force who had known statement was that Le Grand was ‘in “It was on this side of his career Le Grand well and for some time, with the police a statement our insider (continues our correspondent) that I the most likely suggestion being PS does not attempt to deny — and that came in contact with Grande a few William James, although we can’t say he boasted of murder. Attributing the years ago in the course of some rather this with certainty. Whoever it was, it confession of murder to Le Grand as amateurish ‘vigilance work.’ I had to seems to have been important to him a ‘boast’ and disqualifying it as ‘prob- call on and caution him at his own den to let people know that Le Grand was ably absurd’ would relieve the newspa- – then in a cul de sac close to Portland- far worse than a blackmailer; that he per and the writer (should his identity place. The man blustered a good deal ‘preyed’ on ‘miserable women’, and in be discovered) from any claim of libel and threatened me with a revolver; but spite of his numerous arrests, enjoyed a while achieving the aim of getting he acted on the caution. I caught him ‘pristine reputation for almost devilish it out to the world that a shadow of shadowing me some time after. He astuteness.’ Our unnamed insider tells murder hangs over Le Grand’s head. used to practice as a ‘private inquiry us that he paid Le Grand a visit at his This is the only possible interpreta- agent’ off and on, and the terror which home in a cul de sac off Portland Place, tion, as the police certainly suspected he inspired among the more helpless a good enough description for us to iden- Le Grand of murder and were aware class of his victims was due as much to tify the address as 35 Charlotte Street, of his attempt on the life of PS James the show he made of being ‘in with the Portland Place, which is today Hallam earlier that year, so would treat any police’ (en mouchard) as to his probably Street and is indeed a cul de sac. intimation of murder coming from him absurd boast of having a murder in his The visit paid to Le Grand, says with the utmost seriousness. past. He tried keeping a gambling-hall, our insider, was to caution him against At its very essence, this reveal- too-in fact, in the lower walks of life, something that pertained to his ing letter brims over with the author’s

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 55 frustration at seeing Le Grand become likely to have been Jack the Ripper. I’m Telegraphing on Thursday night, our notorious for what he perceives as the currently starting work on a book ten- London correspondent states: - I am lesser of his crimes. It ties Le Grand to tatively titled The Infernal Machine, in a position to give, on the authority murder, the prostitutes upon whom he which will be a full-length book further of a Scotland Yard detective, a some- ‘preyed’, a relationship with and pos- exploring Le Grand as a Ripper suspect what remarkable piece of information sibly protection from authorities, and as well as re-evaluating the murders respecting the hunt of the English most importantly to the Ripper mur- and the investigation with a fresh look police after the perpetrator of the ter- ders, should anyone look to see what and some new information. I have been rible series of East End murders which his ‘vigilance work’ was in reference to. wisely advised by many to shut up and convulsed the whole country with Like the anonymous reporter who saw write the book, but I decided instead horror a while ago. We have heard Le Grand’s stiff 27 year sentence for to publish this article including all the nothing about “Jack the Ripper” for blackmail and fraud as ‘Ripper Jack’s important findings to date, in hopes some time past – over a year – and his Pard’, so our unknown investigator that other researchers will become as murderous operations have not been must also have seen it as a pardon excited as myself and decide to join me renewed. The reason for this is that compared to the noose that would have in the quest by sharing their ideas and the police have, for many months past, met the man who brutally murdered at findings with me. And by ‘with me’ I been perfectly certain that they have least five East End prostitutes. don’t mean by posting them piecemeal discovered the man. The chain of evi- on message boards. I was fortunate dence has been completed with the Sifting the Evidence enough to have had this happen once exception of a single link. That link A few years ago when I cast the light with Debra Arif and can only hope that they have been making unavailing of suspicion on Le Grand in my ‘Jack & lightning will strike twice. endeavours to supply. The suspected The Grapestalk’ essay for Ripper Notes The first piece of evidence we’ll criminal, till within a month, at any magazine, I only had common sense, a consider in this section is a report dis- rate, has been watched and shadowed few press clippings from Gerry Nixon, covered by Mike Covell and identified night and day, awake and asleep, by and my own gut instinct to go on. by Howard Brown as pertaining to Le Scotland Yard detectives. Everything However, very recent and exciting dis- Grand. It is from the Western Mail of points to the conclusion that he has coveries have taken my investigation to Friday, Feb. 26th, 1892. himself been perfectly aware of this a whole other level and have cemented TRACKING “JACK THE RIPPER.” vigilance on the part of the police, and Le Grand’s place as a legitimate contem- REMARKABLE STATEMENT BY A it is, no doubt, from this cause, and this porary suspect, and I firmly believe that SCOTLAND YARD DETECTIVE alone, that the Whitechapel murders as more years go by he’ll be recognized THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE ALL have ceased. Mr. Farquharson, M.P. as the prime suspect and the man most BUT COMPLETE for West Dorset, was credited, I believe,

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott some time since with having evolved a that the reporter thought he was writ- excerpt identifying Le Grand as a sus- remarkable theory of his own in the ing two different stories when in fact pect, looked at earlier in this work, matter. He believed that the author they were one and the same, as made and these two from 1892, is the elusive of the outrages destroyed himself. But clear by the following report from the ‘missing link’ in the chain of evidence. if the police have been on the right April 2nd, 1892 edition of the Hull and This missing link would be the one cru- track this theory is naturally exploded. North Lincolnshire Times. cial piece of evidence that points solely There is, as a matter of fact, nothing ANOTHER “RIPPER” STORY to Le Grand as the murderer, and in improbable in the belief arrived at by A Belfast newspaper’s London corre- 1888 that could only come in the form the Scotland Yard detectives in this spondent says: - “The Scotland-yard of someone seeing him actually com- matter. It is quite common, indeed, for authorities did not believe the alleged mitting a murder, or a piece of physi- a criminal to get off in this manner. confession of the Whitechapel murders cal evidence (such as something taken Some time since – about two years – by Deeming. The fact is they consider, from a victim) solidly linking him to the London police were on the track rightly or wrongly, that they have the one or more of the murders, or a signed of a begging letter writer, who had for author of the Whitechapel tragedies confession. Even third party hearsay years made a fraudulent living out of now under lock and key at Portland connecting Le Grand to the Ripper mur- members of Parliament and public Prison undergoing a sentence of 20 ders, which they quite possibly had in men. They knew who the man was per- years’ penal servitude. He is a Belgian, the form of James Hall, Amelia Demay, fectly well, shadowed him persistently and was tried and sentenced some six or some of the many other accomplices in the East End, knew his address, and months ago for attempting to obtain and associates Le Grand collected over several of his friends and accomplices. money from ladies by threats of vio- the years, would not have been enough Yet they could not complete their chain lence. There is just one link in the chain to secure a conviction. of evidence. The man was never nailed, of evidence missing, and they expect Although it’s a slim hope, the opti- and he finally left London because his sooner or later, to be able to supply it. mism at finding this ‘missing link’, business was too much hampered by With the exception of misidentify- evinced by the investigators in these the police. But he has never to this day ing Le Grand as a Belgian, this report press reports, keeps alive the hope that been arrested. has its facts spot on, as he was indeed it’s still out there and that they might The reporter seems to have con- sentenced to 20 years six months even have discovered it during Le fused many of the details, such as that prior for writing threatening letters Grand’s lifetime, but were compelled to Le Grand got away and was never seen (along with seven years for fraud) keep silent because of Le Grand’s con- again and that he was under watch as and he served time both in Portland nections to the police and other pow- recent as a month, when in fact he’d and Parkhurst prisons. The reoccur- erful people and institutions. If they been in prison for 3 months. It seems ring theme that runs from the 1891 found it, we can find it again.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 57 Jabez Spencer Balfour Meets The Ripper Jabez Spencer Balfour was a Member of Parliament at the time of the Ripper murders and subsequently brought disgrace on himself by heading a fraudulent land society called the Liberator Building Society which, upon its collapse, brought about the ruin of literally thousands of individuals. It was the Enron of its day and was called ‘the most destructive fraud of the nine- teenth century.’ After the collapse, and with the writing on the wall, Balfour took off to Argentina where he spent a few years on the lam before being arrested and escorted back to London by Inspector Frank Froest, of Pinchin Street Torso fame.19 I was initially interested in Balfour because he was a Member of Parliament (Le Grand’s favorite prey for blackmailing) and was involved with land societies, as was Le Grand at the same time. It seemed there might be some link between the two men. It turned out I was correct, but not at all for the reasons I thought — the men had served time together in both Ja b e z Sp e n c e r Ba l f o u r Portland and Parkhurst prisons!

19. For further reading on Jabez Balfour I strongly recommend the 2004 biography, Jabez: The Rise and Fall of a Victorian Rogue, by David McKie.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott Jabez served his time from 1895 ‘I have never neglected an oppor- “Oh, nothing,” was the laconic reply; to 1906 and upon his release found tunity of gleaning information on this “only he’s Jack the Ripper.” himself desperately in need of cash. subject. I have discussed this great mys- Naturally the assertion startled me. He was picked up from prison in a car tery with all sorts and conditions of men The man who made it was a staid owned by Alfred Harmsworth, later – with detectives who were engaged in and sober-minded officer, not given to Lord Northcliffe, the owner and pro- the investigations at the time, with bar- romancing, and much better educated prietor of the Daily Mail newspaper. risters who have carefully scrutinized than many of his fellows. Harmsworth commissioned Jabez to and weighed the evidence which was I set myself to sift it as thoroughly as write a serialized memoir of his life in tendered at the inquests, with journal- I could. To my astonishment I found prison for his weekly publication, the ists, whose vocations requires an inti- that a prisoner, a man once high up Weekly (later, Sunday) Dispatch. He mate knowledge of every topic of public in the detective service, was firmly of wasted no time in getting to work, and interest; and last, but by no means the same opinion. He had himself been the first of his 26 installments appeared least, with ex-convicts, for whom this actively engaged in the Whitechapel only eight days after his release from great undiscovered series of tremen- cases, and he knew the man in question prison. The series was so enormously dous crimes – the work of an outsider well. On one occasion he had arrested popular that Harmsworth commis- – is a matter of absorbing interest and him for another offence; but much as I sioned the prolific Jabez to simulta- speculation to this very day.’ was impressed by these views, I was not neously write a second series entitled Jabez’s first encounter with and convinced. ‘Crimson Crimes’ which would look at introduction of Le Grand makes for well-known crimes and criminals in exciting if all too short reading, and Cruel, Evil Man London’s recent history. This was a is presented here for the first time in So far as I could make out the opinions subject close to Jabez’s heart and he print in over 100 years. were based on this sufficiently startling opened the series with a four-part run There was pointed out to me at fact. The man was believed by all who covering the Jack the Ripper murders. Portland, and afterwards at Parkhurst, knew him, and who knew the criminal Although written in 1906, and not a prisoner whom I was told that man of classes, to be the most likely man in all without its errors, Jabez’s account of the most experienced detectives believed England to commit such atrocities. The the Ripper murders is more detailed to be Jack the Ripper. most likely morally, for he was known and accurate than many accounts pub- “Do you see that tall and villainous- to be an adept in depravity. A lustful, lished within the first 50 or even 75 looking ruffian there?” a warder once cruel, evil man, delighting in every years of the murders. It was clearly a said to me. kind of abominable wickedness; pass- subject he had much interest in, as he “Of course, I do. What’s the matter with ing his life among abandoned women, noted: him?” I answered. and thriving on the wages of their sin;

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 59 the most likely naturally, for he was Le Grand. For instance, we know in the use of a knife, which Le Grand wonderfully skilful in the use of the Jabez’s man is tall, villainous-looking, apparently was, according to Jabez’s knife; swift as a panther, cunning as a was cruel, immoral, worked as a pimp, sources; and we’ll remember from fox. Known to have been the perpetra- served time in both Portland and the 1891 testimony of James Hall, Le tor of many serious offences, he had Parkhurst prisons at the same time as Grand’s ‘guy Friday’ near the time of only been convicted of two. There was did Le Grand, was in for two felonies the Ripper murders, that Le Grand not a worse, a more likely man in all (Le Grand was in for both blackmail was in possession of a collection of London. By nature, by personal gifts, and fraud), and was strongly suspected knives that Hall was in charge of keep- as well as by habits and surroundings, of being Jack the Ripper. If there were ing clean. he was as near an approach to what another man who fit this description It is fortunate that Jabez’s mis- Jack the Ripper might be expected to be and has completely evaded the written taken presumptions about the Ripper as any man ever known to the police. record, it would truly be a remarkable led to his dismissal of Le Grand as the I never could find out, however, that coincidence, even by the standards of criminal, as it allows us to place con- there was any satisfactory evidence to Ripperology. fidence in the information he departs, connect him personally with any of the Jabez makes it clear later on in knowing that he had no motive to exag- crimes, and however likely he might the narrative that he discounted Le gerate the facts to bolster a pet theory. have been, without some such connec- Grand and other suspects based on Most of what he tells us is already tion, the suspicion was little else than the knowledge that they were not left- known from other sources, but adds a mere conjecture. Moreover, there was handed and were not trained surgeons, to our knowledge the quite significant a scientific accuracy displayed, if I may such medical experience being required points that Le Grand was suspected use the expression, in all these crimes to account for the ‘scientific accuracy’ by a number of policemen and detec- after the first [Martha Tabram, by he saw in the murders. These were tives, as well as his own associates, Jabez’s account], such as there was no popular misconceptions at the time, of being the Ripper. He also confirms known ground to attribute to this par- but modern researchers enjoying full that Le Grand, on top of being a pimp, ticular man. 20 access to the extant police and medical was a sexual deviant, and skilled in For obvious reasons of libel, Jabez reports know that the Ripper was nei- the use of a knife. What Jabez may not could not give the identity of the sus- ther left-handed nor need have been a have been aware of, for it may have pect. However, he provides us with trained surgeon, or, in fact, have had swayed his opinion, is that Le Grand, ample details to conclude beyond any any medical experience at all. He need the man “morally and naturally” most doubt that he’s talking about Charles only have been comfortable and skilled likely to have been the Ripper, had

20. Weekly Dispatch, Nov. 11th, 1906.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott risked personal liberty to impose him- apparently respectable man, who was he has decided that the twenty-seven self upon the investigation at a critical filling a responsible position, and who, years should be held as equivalent to a stage, fabricating suspects to throw it I was informed, was an exemplary pris- life sentence. But the fact that the Home off course. oner. This man was actually under- Secretary had to be called in to miti- At present, it is not known who going a term of twenty-seven years’ gate the glaring anomaly of this judi- the prisoner “once high up in the detec- penal servitude, made up of a series of cial absurdity serves only to strengthen tive service” was, but there could only sentences which the judge had ordered and give point to these remarks. have been so many detectives or inspec- should run consecutively. I have heard There can be no doubt he is again tors serving time in Parkhurst prison the charge (I think it was blackmail- referring to Le Grand, who was the between 1895 and 1906, so his identifi- ing) upon which this man was con- only person convicted of blackmail cation seems imminent, and naming a victed, but I know nothing of the facts serving a 27-year sentence. Prima detective who came to believe Le Grand of the case, and without unduly reflect- facie, it seems Jabez is here talking was the Ripper might lead to more clues ing upon him I am quite prepared to about a completely different prisoner, …his identification seems imminent… and another break in the case. assume that those facts were of the but his words must be taken in the con- In 1907, a year after his release worst possible kind – but twenty-seven text for which they were intended, and from prison and the publication of his years’ penal servitude! Why, it is more the book My Prison Life was intended Ripper articles, Jabez again published than a sentence of imprisonment for life. to bring about prison reform, so dis- his prison memoirs in a book entitled This man, if he served all his time, and closing Le Grand’s true character and My Prison Life. As the book only per- did not lose a single remission mark, his candidacy for the Ripper murders, tained to his years in prison, there would remain in prison some months and then arguing that his sentence was no discussion of the Ripper or any longer than the worst of murderers was too severe, would not likely evoke material from his ‘Crimson Crimes’ whose sentences of death had been com- the sympathy he’d intended. However, series. However, Le Grand does make muted to penal servitude for life. Since not wanting to be totally disingenu- an appearance: I have been released I have been told ous, Jabez manages to slip in the fol- I was for some time brought into that this man’s case has been consid- lowing barb, “but I know nothing of the daily contact with a middle-aged and ered by the Home Secretary, and that facts of the case, and without unduly

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 61 reflecting upon him I am quite pre- Porter Wensley retired in 1929, Time pared to assume that those facts were magazine had the following to say: of the worst possible kind.” When crime looms in London Worst possible kind, indeed! there is but one thing to do – report to Jabez would have been aware Scotland Yard. As any reader of the that Le Grand was writing the Home best detective fiction knows, the “C.I.D.” Secretary from prison, as Jabez him- (Criminal Investigation Department) self did the same for his less literate will unravel the knottiest mystery in prison-mates, and it is interesting the shortest possible time. In fiction that he took the time to follow up on there is usually an amateur on hand the status of Le Grand’s pleas. I get to simplify the C.I.D.’s work. In actu- the feeling he was frightened at the ality, for many a long year, the master thought of Le Grand’s early dismissal, mind of Scotland Yard, the prototype of particularly should Le Grand become Sherlock Holmes, a sleuth in no need aware of what he had to say about him of amateur assistance, has been Chief in the Weekly Dispatch. He knew that Constable Frederick Wensley, a real Le Grand would no doubt hear of and super-detective credited with solving seek out his book, so he hoped that more murders than any living man. proper astonishment at his heavy sen- Wensley is as respected by modern tence and his taking the time to speak researchers as he was by his contempo- to the Home Secretary on his behalf raries for his honesty, humble nature, would appease the “lustful, cruel, evil and wealth of experience and knowl- man” whom he was now forced to count edge. He published an autobiography Fr e d e r i c k Po r t e r We n s l e y among his acquaintances. as well as histories of Scotland Yard, Unfortunately, we do not yet know but refused to offer any opinion on who when Le Grand was released from Jack the Ripper might have been. To prison, what he did after, or when he my knowledge, the following sentence died, though hopefully further research from the July 8th, 1929 issue of Time will answer these questions. magazine is the first suggestion of who Wensley thought was the Ripper: Further Police Suspicion No one ever saw “Jack.” The C.I.D. When Chief Constable Frederick and Policeman Wensley gradually

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott caught his accomplices but “Jack the 1. Le Grand was cruel, vicious, vio- could have and did walk the streets Ripper” never was found. lent, accurately described himself of the East End with impunity. If The significance of this statement as “void of all human feeling”; he stopped by a constable, he would cannot be under-appreciated, and as Le lived for years off prostitutes and not be detained. Grand is the only major suspect who took joy in beating them in the open 7. The WVC met at the Crown Tavern had criminal accomplices, there’s little street. Unlike Tumblety, Druitt, or at 74 Mile End Road, a short dis- doubt Wensley is referring to him. Kosminski, Le Grand was a verifi- tance from Berner Street. They let A controversial idea that occurred able sociopath. out for patrol after midnight. This to me during my research into Le Grand 2. Le Grand was accustomed to wear- means that we can accurately place and that deserves serious consideration ing silent shoes as a ‘private inves- Le Grand in the very neighborhood is that Le Grand presents us with the tigator’ and required the patrolman in which Stride was murdered at most probable solution to the “Ostrog of the Whitechapel Vigilance the very hour of her murder. Question” — how did Michael Ostrog Committee to wear them as well. 8. Israel Schwartz described ‘Pipeman’ end up on Macnaghten’s shortlist of He was accustomed to keeping as 5ft 11in, 35 years old, and fair- suspects? Due to space constraints, changes of clothes hidden about haired. There were exceptionally this will be discussed in a future issue, when following people and kept few men in the East End fitting this along with Jabez Balfour’s other three more than one address at a time. description, and certainly very few suspects, which should make for inter- 3. Le Grand, alone among the sus- likely to have been in the neighbor- esting reading. pects, could have depended on an hood and on the street at the time accomplice if necessary. Schwartz walked through Berner Was Charles Le Grand 4. Le Grand, alone among the sus- Street. And at 6ft, age 35, and Jack the Ripper? pects, inserted himself into the fair-haired, Le Grand was prob- The only honest answer to this ques- investigation by joining the WVC. ably the only man in the area who tion can be “I don’t know.” My objective 5. Le Grand alone would have known fit Schwartz’s description and was with this essay was not to make this the whereabouts on any night of also a violent sociopath with a his- argument, but instead to prove that the WVC patrolmen, as he was in tory of abusing prostitutes. Le Grand was a prime suspect in the charge of placing them. Through 9. Following the Star’s publication of Ripper murders and is far and away the his police contacts he would also Schwartz’s story, Le Grand went on most likely man among all the known know the beats of policemen in any a disinformation frenzy, conjuring suspects to have been Jack the Ripper. area of London. up the Packer suspect and the Batty I believe I have succeeded in that goal. 6. Le Grand, because of his status as a Street Lodger, two fabrications The evidence speaks for itself. PI and his position with the WVC, that successfully put the police and

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 63 public on false scents and continue letters in such a way that he was of a merchantman. Le Grand was to serve as red herrings right up to deceitfully pretending to be more a pimp who put on French airs, the present. As has been shown, his ignorant of the crimes than he made occasional trips to Paris, and motive could not have been driven really was. on occasion used the alias ‘Captain by financial gain or a desire for pub- 14. Le Grand went to prison only months Anderson’. licity, and if his own history is any- after the murder of Mary Kelly and thing to go by, Le Grand is quick to was hounded by police immediately purchase lies and alibis only for the upon his release in 1891. Within Think you may have an sake of self-preservation. It is not months he was back in the docks, article just waiting to be an understatement to suggest that rushed through a speedy trial, and published? Le Grand emerges as the probable was given a sentence described by murderer of Liz Stride. a former member of parliament 10. Le Grand was exceptionally intel- as a “glaring anomaly of…judicial Contributions are always ligent as well as cunning. He pos- absurdity” and determined by no welcomed by the Examiner sessed an intense hatred for the less than the Home Secretary to and we would be glad to police and arrogantly gave clues to be extreme. This occurred at the discuss future articles them in his 1891 ‘threat letters’. Le peak of the police investigation of Grand would have taken delight Le Grand as the Ripper and indi- on Jack the Ripper studies, in intentionally murdering two cates he was put away until old other LVP crime and women in the same night but in the age as a consolation for not being social history. jurisdictions of two different police able to take him to trial for the forces. Ripper murders. Even if the police 11. Le Grand, alone among the sus- did come to possess evidence which Drop us a line with your pects, possessed a collection of could have secured a conviction, Le ideas to knives and was alleged to have Grand’s ties to the police depart- [email protected] been skilled in the use of them. ment, possibly the Times and the 12. Le Grand, so alleges Jabez Balfour, Parnell Commission, and other and we will reply promptly was suspected both by detectives important individuals, would have along with our short style and personal acquaintances of made such a gamble impossible. sheet. Don’t be shy — we having been Jack the Ripper. 15. Mary Kelly was a prostitute who put look forward to hearing from 13. Le Grand referenced the on French airs and claimed to have Whitechapel murders in his 1891 traveled to Paris with the captain you soon.

Le Grand: The New Prime Suspect Tom Wescott Acknowledgements: It’s a gross understatement to say that I couldn’t have put this together with- out Debra Arif, whose instincts as a researcher and generosity as a person are virtually unparalleled in this field. I’m proud to be the Watson to her Holmes. To Stewart Evans, my undy- ing gratitude for setting the bar for the rest of us as a researcher, writer, inves- tigator, and human being, and then defying the laws of nature by repeat- Biography edly raising it. To Stephen P. Ryder, Ripperology’s Supreme Guardian and Tom Wescott Landlord, for giving us all a home. To Howard “Eagle Eyes” Brown, for giving om lives in America’s heart- appeared in Ripper Notes, Ripperologist us our home away from home, and for land and, while still a and the Whitechapel Society Journal. your uncanny knack of spotting what Tyoung man, he has been a This the second article for Casebook others miss. To Mike Covell and Mark Casebook.org member since 1998. Examiner. Tom has two pet ferrets. Ripper for your invaluable contribu- He has written extensively on the tions to this work. To Rob Clack for his Ripper murders and his articles have invaluable and timely assistance. To AP Wolf and Robert Charles Linford for your perspective. To Don Souden and David Pegg for making my crazy string of words look so damn good. And last, but never least, to Adrian Phypers, Chris Scott, and (once again) Stephen P. Ryder for the Casebook, its forums, and the indispensable Press Project.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 65 Inspector Andrews Revisited part two: Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & a Voyage to Canada R.J.Palmer

SS La Br e t a g n e d e p a r t i n g f r o m Le Ha v r e

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 66 On the morning of November prisoner over. Bond, the hunting down and extradi- 29th, 1888, two men stood shivering “It appears that one of the mem- tion of several fugitives, and, perhaps on the docks at Liverpool waiting to bers of the staff of Scotland Yard was most interesting of all, the solving of a board the S.S. Sarnia.The shorter man anxious to take a trip to America,” burglary case committed in the home was Roland Gideon Israel Barnett, the Mail’s correspondent mused, of Dr. Robert Anderson, later head of a forty-two year old swindler and “and ascertain how they did things the C.I.D. former accountant whose father had in Toronto. On this account the staff Yet, as far as students of the been a ‘painting and curiosity dealer’ kindly and ably seconded the petition Whitechapel Murders case are con- in Picadilly. A once dashing figure, for Barnett’s extradition, a piece of cerned, it was this mysterious trip to Barnett had married the beautiful courtesy that the Toronto staff may on North America at the end of November, and well-known London actress Nelly some future occasion repay.”1 1888 — barely two weeks after the Power in 1874, but, having fallen on Little did the reporter know that murder of Mary Kelly — that was to be more disreputable times, was cur- this innocent explanation for Andrews’ the most intriguing and controversial rently wanted in Canada for wrecking voyage would soon be met with howls event of Andrews’ career. Years later it the Central Bank of Toronto. The taller of skepticism, and grave suspicions would become all the more suggestive man next to him, sporting a salt-and- arise that something altogether differ- when Chief Inspector Walter Dew (who pepper beard and a suit of ‘Inverness ent was afoot. had been a Detective Sergeant in H cut,’ was Scotland Yard Detective Barnett’s escort, as we have Division in 1888) would name Andrews Inspector Walter Andrews. seen, was one of Victorian London’s as one of the three Detective Inspectors "Provided the trip is a pleasant most prominent detectives. Inspector who had been called in from Scotland one," the Toronto Mail reported, “the Andrews’ varied and exciting career Yard to work the Whitechapel Murder steamer will arrive in Halifax a week included, among other cases, eliciting investigation. This oddity would take from Saturday.” the confessions of a murderer, a shad- yet another strange turn in 1996 — The scene immediately struck owy and perhaps covert role in Scotland and become a major point of contention the Toronto correspondent as odd, for Yard’s greatest scandal of the 1870s, — when Stewart P. Evans and Paul under the auspices of the Fugitive testimony before a Parliamentary Gainey, working from contemporary Offender’s Act, it was entirely up to the Commission on police ethics and disci- and near-contemporary sources, theo- Canadians to come and fetch Barnett. pline, the breaking-up of a black-mar- rized that Andrews’ trip to America Instead, for some strange reason, ket trade in boy ‘acrobats,’ a prominent was an attempt to trace Ripper suspect Inspector Andrews was bringing the abortion case alongside Dr. Thomas Francis Tumblety.

1. The Toronto Mail, November 29, 1888

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer Evans and Gainey’s suggestion later, the Met still retained their inter- investigations, John Doughty had been seemed, on examination, highly plau- est, and Tumblety was arrested on squeezed for information — probably sible. Chief Inspector John Littlechild November 7th. He quickly made bail, in an effort to clarify Tumblety’s move- (who, we shall see, was working with but failed to appear as required by ments over the course of that summer Andrews in October and November law; on the 14th a warrant was issued, and fall. 1888) later confirmed that Tumblety and Tumblety was now charged with The timing of this "squeeze" was “among the suspects” in the four counts of gross indecency and four was suggestive, for this was, after Whitechapel murder case, and even, to counts of indecent assault. all, November 1888. The Met was in his mind, “a very likely one.” Tumblety A gross indecency case would hardly the middle of its most challenging had sporadically practiced “medicine” have been an earth-shattering event and expensive manhunt of the 19th in London since the mid-1870s, and had it occurred at any other moment, Century, and Scotland Yard was also at least one report places him in the but the timing and complexity of the feeling the squeeze. James Monro, East End.This, too, was plausible, but charges were peculiar. Tumblety’s last filing in a later report to the Home strange; the Whitechapel Road was a known sexual encounter with a London Office, would reveal that no less than popular resort for quacks (even George youth, John Doughty, had occurred on 143 policemen from other parts of the Sims mentions it) but an exceedingly November 2nd — begging the obvious metropolis had been assigned to plain- unusual location for an American phy- question why the police didn’t simply clothes detail in the East End that sician.2 And though we don’t know pre- charge him then and there and be November.4 In other words, extremely cisely when the Metropolitan Police done with it. Instead, the investigation hard-pressed for resources and man- first began to investigate Tumblety in pushed further, drumming — up three power, Scotland Yard nonetheless saw 1888, it was, in all probability, shortly additional victims of Tumblety’s sexual fit to expend considerable boot leather after the murders of Liz Stride and romps — James Crowley on October in working up a gross indecency case Kate Eddowes, for it is known that 14th, Arthur Brice on August 31st, and against this singular and curious Irish during the first week of October, 1888, Albert Fisher clear back on July 27th. quack. a “man from New York who keeps If the infamous Cleveland Street scan- Of interest in this regard is a name an Herb Shop in Whitechapel,” was dal of 1889 affords any insight into that would appear on the file cover of questioned by the police.3 Five weeks how the Victorian police handled these Tumblety’s eventual gross indecency

2. An extensive search reveals that only one American doctor was living in London’s East End in the 1881 UK census; for Sims, see "Dagonet’s” column in The Referee, October 21, 1888. 3. Reported in the Chicago Tribune, October 8, 1888 4. James Monro, report to Evelyn Ruggles-Brice, July18, 1889. See Evans and Rumbelow’s Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard Investigates (2006) p. 204.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 68 indictment: Frank Castle Froest, a What happened next is not entirely young detective at the C.I.D. This clear, but Tumblety somehow skirted would indicate that it was Scotland police surveillance, made his way to Yard, and not the divisional police, who France (Chief Inspector Littlechild were handling Tumblety’s indecency implies that he was last spotted at case; further, as noted in the first part Bologne), and by November 24th, was of this series, Froest worked at least safely chugging down the Seine’s estu- one earlier case on behalf of Inspector ary at Le Havre, a first-class passen- Walter Andrews (a pornography case), ger aboard the steamer La Bretagne. raising the spectre that he may, in The surviving ship passenger list fact, have been Andrews’ Detective has Tumblety using the alias “Frank Sergeant. If true, this, in turn, would Townsend’; arrogantly, he had retained strongly suggest that Andrews was the his initials “F.T.” — a fairly common Scotland Yard Inspector assigned to ruse among criminals. Five days later, investigate Tumblety in 1888. Inspector Walter Andrews, using the This was all rather curious, and extradition of Roland Barnett as an it would soon grow quite bizarre. By expedient prop, sailed out of Liverpool all appearances, on November 14th, aboard the S.S. Sarnia, bound for Scotland Yard had Tumblety by the North America. throat. With four material witnesses at their disposal and eight serious Complications charges filed, they had enough Yet, as compelling as Evans and clout to hold Tumblety in Gainey’s theory seemed to many, it London indefinitely. There was was soon dismissed by a number of a cock-up, however; inexpli- critics, including, eventually, such well- cably, Tumblety made bail on known theorists as Ivor Edwards, A.P. November 16th (as listed in Wolf, Bob Hinton, Wolf Vanderlinden, the surviving court schedule) and, most recently, Timothy Riordan. by raising £300 in sureties — no Ascertaining the truth is not easy mean feat for a visitor to London. — indeed, it’s far more complex than Not surprisingly, he took the oppor- any historian has acknowledged — Fr a n c i s Tu m b l e t y tunity to flee the country. for, from the outset, we are faced with

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer Scotland Yard itself was severely damaged by a dynamite explosion two seemingly insurmountable obsta- this article, it must be merely noted any better; Scotland Yard itself was cles. Any official report that Andrews that throughout the 1880s, vari- severely damaged by a dynamite explo- may have filed in regard to his 1888 ous Irish dissident groups, stationed sion, and a Detroit bookseller and Irish investigation has been lost, probably mainly in Brooklyn and New York, nationalist named William Lomasney irretrievably; equally frustrating, the conducted what is sometimes referred made an unsuccessful attempt to blow contemporary press, in covering the to as the “Dynamite War.” Throughout up London Bridge. Perhaps the most story, reported it in two entirely differ- 1881-1887, Irish-American terrorists ambitious scheme of all was the Clan- ent ways — some newspapers reporting exploded bombs in railway stations and na-Gael’s Jubilee Plot of 1887, said that Andrew was, in fact, investigating public buildings in Liverpool, Glasgow, to have been originally conceived to the Whitechapel murders in America, and London, and threats of assassi- wreck Westminster Abbey on the 50th while others, exuding equal confi- nation and kidnapping disturbed the Anniversary of Queen Victoria’s Rule. dence, announced that he was actually sleep of those in the upper echelons of One of the chief figures in the plot — gathering witnesses for the Special Dublin Castle and Scotland Yard. In which was ultimately foiled by Monro “Times” Commission, then underway 1882, Irish Secretary Lord Cavendish and Littlechild — was F. F. Millen of in London. and his undersecretary, Thomas Burke, New York, Fenian adventurer extraor- The background for this latter were slashed to death in Phoenix Park, dinaire, night editor at the New York suggestion is all-important if we are Dublin, by a splinter group calling Herald, and a sometimes informer in to understand Andrews’ 1888 mis- themselves the “Irish Invincibles.” The the pay of Dr. Robert Anderson.5 sion to North America. Unfortunately, following year a Brooklyn physician Running a parallel course to this it also pitches us into the chaotic a named Thomas Gallagher shocked the violence, Charles Stewart Parnell, world of nationalistic politics and even British public by successfully smuggling MP for Meath, was attempting a more espionage. 300 pounds of nitroglycerine into a bed legislative approach to achieve Home Beyond the immediate scope of sit in Central London. Nor was 1884 Rule for Ireland — and was making

5. For Millen’s relationship to Anderson, see Christy Campbell’s Fenian Fire (2002) p. 53.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 70 considerable headway. After a brief dalliance with the Conservatives, Parnell had swapped sides at the begin- ning of 1886, forming an alliance with members of Gladstone’s Liberal Party, among them, Henry Labouchere, MP for Northampton and editor of the London weekly, Truth. It was a coali- tion that gave the ‘Parnellites’ consid- erable power within the government, and led to the introduction of a Home Rule Bill, which, in effect, promised to give Ireland a great swath of autonomy, including its own parliament. All eyes were on Gladstone’s bill, but it failed in August, 1886, dashing not only Parnell’s hopes for a peaceful transition to Irish ‘Home Rule,’ but also signal- ing the fall of Gladstone’s administra- tion. Elections were held, and Liberals opposed to Home Rule joined with the Conservative party’s Unionists, and, as a result, Lord Salisbury became Prime Minister. In effect, the bomb- ing campaign of the Clan-na-Gael had been a failure; appalled by the London bombings, working-class Englishmen, once sympathetic to the Irish, had defected to the Conservatives in droves. Parnell’s worst fears had been realized; his constitutional efforts had Ch a r l e s Pa r n e ll been undermined by terrorism.

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer Convinced of the necessity of kick- further investigate The Times’ allega- pursuing an undisclosed inquiry.The ing Parnell while he was down, in tions. The Commission opened in late question is: what was this inquiry? Did 1887 the voice of conservative London, August 1888 (incidentally, just prior to it concern the Special Commission, The Times, published a series of arti- the murder of Polly Nichols) and would then underway in London, or did it cles under the inflammatory title continue for over a year — all in all, concern the Whitechapel Murder case “Parnellism and Crime,” arguing that running an independent but remark- — also at its apex? Superficially, at the great Irish leader, far from using ably parallel course to the Whitechapel least, it would seem a difficult question mere political persuasion, was actually Murder investigation. to answer, particularly since the press up to his elbows in violence — both With these facts in mind, one can reported it both ways. Which accounts with the Land League in Ireland and appreciate the apparent difficulty that are we to believe? What is the truth with the radical ‘dynamite party’ in faces any historian confronted with the and how do we determine it? America. The most sensational pieces oddity of a Scotland Yard Inspector of evidence against Parnell were let- taking a mysterious trip to North The Critics Mount a ters brought forward by Richard America in late November 1888. And Challenge Pigott, allegedly in Parnell’s own hand, it must be acknowledged at the outset To determine what Scotland Yard was stating his satisfaction at the Phoenix that Walter Andrews’ trip to North up to at the end of 1888, we must first Park murders of 1882. America was mysterious; the contempo- examine the arguments against Walter What followed the publication rary press on both sides of the Atlantic Andrews investigating a Whitechapel of The Times’ exposé was a politi- reported it as such, openly speculat- Murder suspect in North America. For cal fire storm. While Parnell reacted ing that an undisclosed intrigue lay at not only are these arguments seem- with silent contempt, an Irish MP the bottom of it. These suspicions were ingly compelling, they lead us directly named O’Connell filed suit, accusing well founded, for not only did Scotland into the thick of the scrimmage. All The Times of libel. (It was later sug- Yard volunteer to bring the swin- relevant points will require consider- gested that O’Connell was a shill for dler Barnett across the Atlantic, but able scrutiny, so it will be useful to the Conservatives, who wanted the once delivered into Canadian hands, begin with a summary of the opposing suit pressed.) In theory a civil case, Scotland Yard’s man — our own Walter arguments. politicians on both sides of the Home Andrews — did not immediately 1. Documentary evidence showing Rule aisle busied themselves with the return to England. Having relinquish- that Andrews’ trip to North America impending suit. The suit was quickly ing custody of Barnett to Inspector was organized before Tumblety was won by The Times, but it almost imme- Stark of the Toronto police in Halifax known to have fled to Le Havre, diately resurfaced in a new incarnation: on December 9th, Andrews lingered in France, thus ‘disproving’ any connec- a so-called "Special Commission" to North America for another two weeks, tion between the two events.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 72 2. Further evidence that Scotland travels took him nowhere near New Yard was not "soliciting" information York City — the most obvious place to about Tumblety in the United States, "track" Tumblety. and, indeed, that all correspondence While two or three different theo- exchanged between Scotland Yard and rists have rallied around these points, the police departments in America in for the sake of clarity it will be useful regard to the Irishman can be traced to to use Wolf Vanderlinden’s two-part Chief Patrick Crowley of San Francisco, essay ‘On the Trail of Tumblety?’ as who, it is argued, unilaterally decided the culmination of these arguments. to investigate Tumblety after reading This is not to single-out Vanderlinden about him in the newspapers. as a whipping-post for specific scorn, 3. Contemporary press reports but, rather, to acknowledge that he has implying that Andrews’ trip to North presented the most detailed and sus- America had nothing whatsoever to tained set of arguments in support of do with the Ripper investigation, but, this line of thinking. Further, not only rather, actually concerned The Times’ has Vanderlinden’s essay proved influ- “Parnell Commission” then underway ential, his arguments have recently in London. Further, there are accounts received a much wider hearing when where Andrews seemingly acknowl- they were acknowledged by Timothy edges this. Riordan, in his generally sympathetic 4. The outward appearance that biography of Francis Tumblety. To Andrews’ nine-day sojourn in Toronto, eliminate any contention at the outset, Ontario, gives scant indication that it is here noted that Vanderlinden’s full he could have been investigating arguments can be found in two issues of the Whitechapel Murders, let alone Ripper Notes; serious historians of the Tumblety, since the quack had not case will be advised to study those argu- practiced in Toronto in over "thirty ments in detail and then weigh their years." relative merits by comparing them to 5. Finally, the fact that Andrews’ the facts laid out in the present series.6

6. “On the Trail of Tumblety?” Parts 1 and 2, Wolf Vanderlinden, Ripper Notes No. 23 ( July 2005) and Ripper Notes No. 24 (October 2005). Ch i e f Pa t r i c k Cr o w l e y

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer The motivation of what follows is to set Police ask whether the Canadian filed to the Home Office. Luckily, the historical record straight. authorities would be willing to pay it is known who made this request for an Inspector to deliver Barnett to and when. It was made by no less a Tracking Tumblety? Toronto in a letter dated before (the figure than Dr. Robert Anderson, the The first major plank in Vanderlinden’s 19th) if their purpose was to track Assistant Commissioner in charge of argument is that Andrews’ trip to Tumblety (assuming, of course, they the C.I.D., and the man who was ulti- North America couldn’t have been an didn’t utilize any psychic aid)?7 mately responsible for finding “Jack attempt to ‘track’ Francis Tumblety, To understand the full importance the Ripper.” Anderson sent his request because it was negotiated before the of Vanderlinden’s argument, a little on November 19, 1888. We know this Irishman was known to have jumped explanation is necessary. In both the because the response to Anderson’s bail to France. In short, the chronology City of Toronto Archives, as well as request has survived. It was written by doesn’t work. in the National Archives in London, Sir Godfrey Lushington, the Permanent In short, the chronology doesn’t work.

The first problem to arise is the there are surviving letters concern- Undersecretary at the Home office. timing between Tumblety’s disappear- ing the negotiations between Scotland Sir, ance from London and Scotland Yard’s Yard, the Home Office, the Colonial I am directed by the Sec. of State to asking the Canadian authorities if they Office, and the authorities in Toronto acquaint you that a copy of your letter could deliver Barnett to Toronto. On 20 to deliver Roland Barnett to North of the 19th instant relative to R.I.G November, Tumblety had a hearing at America (in a nitpicking, but rather Barnett was on the 20th instant for- Old Bailey which scheduled his trial important detail, none of these nego- warded to the Colonial Office, and that on charges of gross indecency and inde- tiations actually states that the officer their attention has today been called to cent assault for the 10th of December. accompanying Barnett had to be an the 7th Section of the Fugitive Offenders Presumably Tumblety was present in Inspector). Unfortunately, one of the Act which provides that if not conveyed the court and thus still in London on key documents, if not the key document, out of the United Kingdom within one this date. Why, then, would the London has gone missing: the original request month after his committal, a fugitive

7. Ripper Notes No. 24, p. 27

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 74 may apply to a Superior Court for his Assistant Commissioner in charge of discharge, and to the consequent neces- the C.I.D.9 sity of a speedy decision being arrived That said, it is clear from at as to the disposal of Barnett. Lushington’s letter that Robert The Sec. of State has received an Anderson had inquired about the intimation from the Colonial Office feasibility of sending a man to that the Canadian Government will at North America, and was fur- once be asked to telegraph whether they ther asking whether he could are prepared to guarantee the expenses use the extradition of the which would be involved in the con- prisoner Roland Barnett to veyance of the fugitive to Canada and do it. Anderson was in luck, which you estimate would amount to because the Colonial Office, £120, and what arrangements they pro- in looking into the matter, pose to make.... acknowledged that Barnett I am, Sir, had been in custody nearly Your obedient Servant a month and would soon Godfrey Lushington. be eligible for release if R. Anderson Esq the Canadians didn’t make CID8 arrangements to come and As a sidebar to the above, it get him. The Colonial Office, might be noted (and the relevance of therefore, agreed to contact this will become clearer in time) that Canada. What is equally clear Lushington was not particularly an is Anderson’s intense inter- admirer of Robert Anderson. Indeed, a est in sending a man to America year earlier, Lushington had attempted — revealed by the fact that he had to block Anderson’s original appoint- already drawn-up an estimate of the ment to the Metropolitan Police, when cost of the mission, namely, the sub- Anderson was chosen to be the per- stantial price tag of £120. (By compari- Ro b e r t An d e r s o n sonal assistant of James Monro, then son, Anderson’s entire annual salary

8. Lushington to Anderson, November 23, 1888, HO 134/10. 9. Bernard Porter, The Origins of the Vigilante State (1987) p. 85.

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer over the previous year had been £400). request to the Colonial Office — and cleaned up the mess.10 Vanderlinden’s objection, how- we have nothing to show that the Irish In other words, while the ever, is that this negotiation is taking quack willingly appeared at a pretrial December 10th, 1888 trial date at place on November 19th, whereas hearing four days later. After all, only Old Bailey does indeed suggest that Tumblety was slated to appear in court five days earlier, Tumblety had failed Tumblety’s pretrial hearing took place at a pretrial hearing on November to appear as required by his initial on November 20th, we have nothing to 20th — the following day. Under the police bail, and an arrest warrant was show that Tumblety, rather than his alias "Frank Townsend," he wouldn't issued. The Irish quack had, in fact, solicitor, made it into the courtroom slip out of France aboard La Bretagne an extremely poor record of “facing that day. And although Chief Inspector until five days later, November 24th. the music.” Over the next three years, Littlechild doesn’t state when it hap- The implication is that Scotland Yard Tumblety would find himself in further pened, he does tell us that Tumblety could hardly have planned to “chase” legal troubles, and it is known that of “jumped bail” — which obviously could Tumblety anywhere, if, in fact, the sus- his next three scheduled court appear- have been any time after his initial pect was still in London. ances, 1888-1890, he wasn’t initially release on the 16th. The weakness of this argument is present at any of them. In the first case What may also be relevant is some- readily apparent. In regard to the legal he absconded, in the next he was a no- thing first noticed by Stewart Evans. hearing at the Old Bailey on November show, and in the third he hired a lawyer On the very day of the pretrial hear- 20th, Vanderlinden merely ‘presumes’ to stand in for him. As far back as 1860, ing at the Old Bailey, November 20th, that Tumblety was present — but when asked to appear before a coro- Tumblety wired J.S Morgan & Co., his offers no actual evidence. “Presumably ner’s jury in St. John, New Brunswick New York bankers, seeking in excess of Tumblety was present in the court and (that subsequently returned a verdict £260 [at least £25,000 today]; this was thus still in London on this date,” he of manslaughter), Tumblety instead a very large amount for 1888 and only writes. fled to Calais, Maine, in the middle of slightly less than the £300 bail set back This assumption, however, may the night. In 1875, when yet another on November 16th, which, naturally, well be on weak footing. The existing manslaughter charge hung over his would be forfeited by his sureties if he court schedule states that Tumblety head in Liverpool, England, Tumblety chose to abscond.11 The obvious impli- was out on bail on November 16th — again avoided the coroner’s inquest, cation is that Tumblety was attempt- three days before Anderson made his decamping to London while his lawyer ing to raise money to reimburse his

10. The Coroner in the case, Mr. J. Aspinall, complained of Tumblety’s absence, saying that he “ought to be present.” See Liverpool Mercury, January 28, 1875. 11. In a bizarre twist, Tumblety reprinted the bank’s response in his 1889 pamphlet, Dr. Francis Tumblety, A Sketch of the Life of the Gifted and World-Famed Physician, p. 90.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 76 bondsmen, having already decided to when Scotland Yard began to suspect the Victorian era. Without the luxury ‘fly the coop.’ Unfortunately, the rele- the sailor Thomas Sadler in the murder of fingerprints, DNA, or other sophis- vant bank records have not survived, of East End prostitute Francis Coles, ticated forensic evidence, the Victorian and we do not know from which city they delved deeply into Sadler’s past police relied heavily on witness deposi- Tumblety wired this request. It may life. Chief Inspector Donald Swanson tions and even explorations into a sus- have been in London; on the other conducted extensive interviews of pect’s past conduct and character. hand, it may have been in Hull, Dover, Sadler’s wife, and there was an effort An even more illuminating inves- or anywhere else in England or even to recreate a chronology of Sadler’s tigation occurred in 1892. When France. movements during the 1870s and 80s someone calling himself "Dr. Thomas More to the point, however, there — including a shadowy incident in the Neill" was first suspected of poison- is no reason for Vanderlinden, Riordan, mid-1880s involving a knife.12 Further, ing prostitutes in the industrial slum or anyone else to assume that Scotland when a rumor circulated that Sadler of Lambeth, South London, Scotland Yard’s original intent was to “chase” had once worked in a wool factory in Yard sent a man to America to inves- Tumblety anywhere. The objection is Buck’s Row (the location of the 1888 tigate Neill’s antecedents. Neill, as far argumentative rather than an analyti- murder of Polly Nichols) Inspector as Scotland Yard was concerned, was cal; an attempt to answer the original Henry Moore was sent round to exam- a Canadian (he was, in fact, originally theory suggested by Evans and Gainey, ine the factory’s books, but found no from Glasgow) but they didn’t have rather than to address the most likely evidence to support the claim.13 a clear notion of who he was, or why historical probability. As we shall soon While such inquiries might strike he was in London. On June 18, 1892, see, Scotland Yard’s original aim was the layman as peculiar — they obvi- Assistant Met Commissioner Robert almost certainly along entirely differ- ously involved incidents taking place Anderson — much as he did in 1888 — ent lines: to send a man to America to well before the 1891 murder of Coles sent a man to North America: Detective investigate the antecedents of a sus- — they were, in fact, standard police Inspector Fred Jarvis. Over the next pect in the Whitechapel murder case. A procedure. The chief aim of any com- several weeks, Jarvis would conduct background check, as it were. Indeed, petent detective is to gather as much an extensive background check into Dr. when it came to serious murder sus- biographical information about his Neill’s antecedents in Canada and the pects, 19th Century Scotland Yard did suspect as possible — studying his United States, to determine “just what routinely conduct such inquiries. prior arrests, his family life, and the sort of life he lived there”; he would Two examples will suffice. In 1891, like. This was particularly true during not return aboard the S.S. Mongolian

12. For Swanson’s February 21, 1891 report on Sadler’s antecedents, see MEPO 3/140, ff. 65-74. 13. Report of Inspector Henry Moore, March 2, 1892. MEPO 3/140, ff.75-78.

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer until eight weeks later.14 Significantly, the time of Anderson’s initial overture Roland Barnett’s pending extradition Jarvis’s trip to Canada was instigated to the Home Office on November 19th, to Toronto would be an expedient tool before Dr. Neil was actually charged Francis Tumblety had already been in for sending one of the three Inspectors in the Lambeth poisoning case. Robert Scotland Yard’s ‘net’ for at least two who was working the Whitechapel Anderson had thought it expedient to weeks. As Littlechild informs us, he was murder case to make relevant inqui- hold Neil (who was, of course, the serial a suspect in the Whitechapel murder ries in North America. poisoner Dr. Thomas Neill Cream) case, but was being held in London on A final point. Technically, almost on a misdemeanor charge of black- a gross indecency charge. The situation anyone could have escorted Barnett mail while Jarvis went to America to is entirely analogous to Neill Cream’s back to Toronto — a detective-ser- find out exactly who the odd doctor in June 1892, when Anderson sent geant, or even a pair of constables. was, and whether he could drum-up Jarvis to America. Thus, if one merely Interestingly, Robert Anderson chose information showing that Cream was substitutes the word “investigate” for Andrews, the only Scotland Yard a credible murder suspect. It wasn’t the word “chase” Vanderlinden’s entire Inspector that he was likely to have until July 18th — a month after Jarvis objection implodes. What is actually in known personally, being the man who had first departed for North America evidence is that Tumblety was being had so successfully solved the 1882 bur- — that Anderson actually felt he had investigated by Scotland Yard in early glary case in his own home. Yet all of enough evidence to file murder charges November, 1888, and was in all prob- this pales in comparison to something against Cream. ably being investigated as early as the that the critics have failed to note. Thus, as eager as various theo- beginning of October. We don’t know During the very week that Anderson rists have been to portray the idea of if Tumblety was still in London on was negotiating with the Home Office sending a detective to American in November 19th, but, either way, it is to send his man to America (Nov. 19th- regard to the Ripper investigation as painfully obvious that Anderson’s over- Nov. 27th) he was also in contact with bordering on the ludicrous, this is, in tures took place after Tumblety’s ini- American authorities specifically in fact, precisely what Scotland did do tial detainment, and three days after regard to Francis Tumblety’s American in the very next serial murder case in he managed to make bail. Thus, the antecedents. England: the Lambeth poisonings. claim that the chronology doesn’t work All of this is highly relevant, for in is simply inaccurate. Was Anderson Soliciting assessing Vanderlinden’s argument, it Indeed, it is entirely plausible that Information? mearly needs to be pointed out that at Anderson had a sudden inspiration: Evidence for this will be presented in

14. For Jarvis’ investigation of Cream in the United States and Canada, see MEPO 3/144. Also recounted in Angust McLaren, A Prescription for Murder: The Victorian Serial Killings of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream (1993).

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 78 it is first necessary to address what has become a point of contention. a moment, but it is first necessary to he could furnish a copy of Tumblety’s were less than impressed. Since it is address what has become a point of handwriting.15 This was certainly star- known that news of Tumblety’s London contention. tling, for, at the very least, it would troubles had already leaked back to As a matter of simple common imply that Scotland Yard was in con- America on November 18th, they were sense, not to mention convenience, it tact with American authorities, and, quick to suggest that Scotland Yard’s would seem obvious that if Scotland if the accuracy of the report could be interest was only passing, and that Yard was truly interested in an inves- accepted, even before the Irish quack the information they were gleaning tigation of Francis Tumblety’s anteced- was arrested in London for gross from America could be traced back to a ents, their first point of contact would indecency. rather meddlesome Police Chief in far be the various police agencies in North An examination of local San off San Francisco who had forwarded America. Yet, as Vanderlinden and Francisco papers, however, tells a dif- an unsolicited telegram. Riordan (among others) have argued, ferent story. While Chief Crowley did, As Timothy Riordan states in his there is precious little evidence, if any, in fact, telegram Scotland Yard, it was recent biography, “the problem is that... that Scotland Yard actually did this. on November 19th — the date given by the San Francisco papers...indicate that That said, in their 1996 book on the New York Times was evidently a Chief Crowley, of the San Francisco Tumblety Evans and Gainey did have typographical error. police, got in touch with Scotland Yard one weapon in their arsenal — an This seemed, in some respects, a after reports of Tumblety’s arrest were article from the New York Times of minor point; clearly, the most inter- widely circulated.”16 November 23, 1888, stating that San esting fact was that Crowley was com- Vanderlinden is even more blunt: Francisco Police Chief Patrick Crowley municating with Scotland Yard about “Chief Crowley himself stated had sent a telegram to Scotland Yard on Francis Tumblety in November 1888. in the San Francisco papers that he October 29th, informing the C.I.D. that Evans and Gainey’s critics, however, decided to investigate Tumblety when

15. Stewart Evans and Paul Gainey, Jack the Ripper: First American Serial Killer (1995) p. 128. 16. Timothy B. Riordan, Prince of Quacks (2009) p.176.

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer he first heard from U.S. press reports that he was a Ripper suspect on the 18th of November. Scotland Yard was thus not soliciting information from police in North America.”17 A close reading of the San Francisco papers, however, shows a far more complicated — and uncertain — chain of events. To begin with, despite the claim that ‘Chief Crowley himself’ had stated that he was inspired by U.S. press reports, nowhere is Crowley quoted as saying this, nor is he even paraphrased to that effect. Nor do we have copies of the official correspondence that passed between the San Francisco Police and Scotland Yard. Vanderlinden and Riordan’s suggestion can actually be traced to an unknown reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle, writing on November 23rd. When the news of Tumblety's arrest reached this city, Chief of Police Crowley recollected that the suspected man for- merly lived here, and he took the neces- sary steps to learn all about his career in this city. He found that Tumblety arrived here in the early part of 1870 and took rooms at the Occidental Hotel. Oc c i d e n t a l Ho t e l

17. Wolf Vanderlinden, “On the Trail of Tumblety, Part Two”, Ripper Notes No. 24, p. 44

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 80 He opened an office at 20 Montgomery reported it as follows: furnish specimens of Tumblety’s hand- Street, but remained in the city only a Dr. Tumblety writing. The dispatch was sent on the few months, leaving in September of The London Detectives Ask Chief 19th instant, and yesterday this answer the same year. While here he opened Crowley About Him was received: an account with the Hibernia Bank Dr. Francis Tumblety, the suspect P. Crowley, Chief of Police, San and left a considerable amount to his arrested at London in connection with Francisco, Cal.: Thanks. Send hand- credit in that institution when he went the Whitechapel murders, is still held writing and all details you can of away... by the police of that city, and a good Tumblety. Anderson. Scotland Yard.”18 While the Chronicle’s report does deal of importance seems to be attached We don’t know if this request of indeed insinuate what Riordan and to his apprehension. All facts in relation November 22nd was Robert Anderson’s Vanderlinden later suggest, it is highly to the suspected “doctor” are being fully first telegram to San Francisco (more problematic for a number of reasons. To collected, and, as Tumblety was once in on this in a moment), but it doesn’t begin with, San Francisco’s other three this city, there has been considerable particularly sound like an initial con- leading dailies — the Alta California, correspondence telegraphed between the tact. Whatever the case, Anderson was The Evening Bulletin, and The Police Departments of San Francisco clearly interested; as the Examiner Examiner — covered the same story and London. Chief of Police Crowley notes, the London detectives were on the same date, but nowhere state, has succeeded in gaining some fur- "asking" about Tumblety, and, indeed, nor even imply, that Crowley had been ther information about Tumblety, who as late as December 4th, The Examiner inspired by news reports. The Evening came to this city in 1870 and opened an would insist that Anderson, and not Bulletin, for instance, merely states account at the Hibernia Bank... Crowley, had initiated the exchange.19 that Crowley “has lately been in corre- He never withdrew his account Yet, there are far more serious spondence with the officials at Scotland from the institution, and today there is problems with The Chronicle’s ver- Yard," while the Daily Alta California a good sum of money to his credit there. sion of events. Despite the suggestion reports that Crowley had “exchanged When the Chief of Police learned these that “Chief of Police Crowley recol- considerable correspondence with facts, and that the bank still had sev- lected that the suspected man formerly Scotland Yard.” The Examiner, mean- eral letters written by Tumblety, he tele- lived here,” thus launching his inves- while, which spilled far more ink on graphed to the Superintendent of Police tigation, it’s clear from several other Tumblety than any other local paper, in London that he could, if desired, reports that Crowley didn’t, in fact,

18. The San Francisco Examiner, November 23, 1888. 19. The San Francisco Examiner, December 4, 1888. According to the article, Scotland Yard wanted to compare Tumblety’s handwriting to certain “Jack the Ripper” letters.

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer have a clear recollection of Tumblety. devoting six paragraphs to the arrest on the whole it doesn’t sound plausi- As far as Crowley was concerned, the of an entirely different London suspect: ble. More likely, the Chronicle reporter ‘Indian Herb Doctor’ hadn’t been in Sir George Arthur, a member of the later implied that Crowley had been San Francisco since 1870; the Chief British peerage, who had been caught inspired by a local news report in order even seems to have confused him with ‘slumming’ in Whitechapel. News of to leave the impression that his own someone called “Dr. Stanley.” ‘another’ suspect was tacked on to the paper, The Chronicle, first broke the “It is the belief of Chief Crowley end of the Arthur piece, almost as an story. that people in this city have confounded afterthought — and, significantly, it Yet, beyond all this, there is a more Dr. Tumblety with Dr. Stanley,” didn’t even given an accurate rendition glaring problem. When the historical The Evening Bulletin reported on of the suspect’s name: record is uncertain, it is always wise November 23rd. “Stanley was a large, Another arrest was a man who gave to trace the earliest known source for distinguished-looking man [who] was the name of Dr. Kumblety [sic] of New any given story. In this case, news that in the habit of dressing in a peculiar York. The police could not hold him on Chief Patrick Crowley was investigat- manner and always wore top boots and suspicion of the Whitechapel crimes, ing Tumblety locally was first reported was followed by two gray hounds [note: but he will be committed for trial at the by the San Francisco Evening Post on an obvious description of Tumblety]. Central Criminal Court under the spe- November 22 — a day before similar Owing to the short time that Tumblety cial law passed soon after the Modern reports aired in the city’s other leading resided in this city, Chief Crowley Babylon exposures.The police say this dailies: thinks it improbable that people could is the man's right name, as proved by When Dr. Francis Tumblety, the have become well-acquainted with his letters in his possession; that he is from eccentric physician, was arrested in actions.” New York, and that he has been in the London, some days ago, on suspicion These uncertain and muddled habit of crossing the ocean twice a year of being the Whitechapel murderer, it memories pose a rather serious prob- for several years.20 was telegraphed out here that he had lem. Remember those press reports While this could be the catalyst lived in this city for years. [Note:The that supposedly inspired Crowley’s for Crowley’s investigation, it would Chronicle's piece of November 18th, investigation back on November 18th? mean that Crowley, seeing this blurb stated nothing of the kind] Chief In reality, only one San Francisco paper about ‘Kumblety,’ somehow summoned Crowley made an investigation into covered Tumblety’s London arrest his hazy remembrance of Tumblety (or the matter and ascertained from C. on that date — The Chronicle. This, Stanley?) and then started a unilateral F. Smythe, who is employed in the however, was actually a long article investigation. This could be true, but Hibernia Bank, that Tumblety came

20. The San Francisco Chronicle, November 18, 1888.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 82 here in March or April 1870, and took Captain Isaiah W. Lees, looking Scotland Yard; we are forced to refer to a room at the Occidental Hotel. He up Tumblety’s name in every San press coverage — which never inspires shortly afterwards opened an office at Francisco directory for the past twen- confidence. 20 Montgomery street, but he did not ty-five years), and somehow quickly Indeed, the only surviving and remain here long, for he mysteriously churned-up an abandoned account reliable example of the actual com- disappeared the following September. in the Hibernia Bank that Crowley munications exchanged between the If accurate, this suggests that couldn’t have known existed. And then San Francisco Police and the C.I.D. Crowley’s investigation was inspired — that same afternoon — telegraphed is Robert Anderson’s telegram of Nov. by telegrams linking Tumblety to San Scotland Yard. 22nd. Francisco. We don’t know who tele- A little common sense is in order. London (England) Thursday graphed this information — only that it The population of San Francisco in November 22 - P. Crowley, Chief of had been “some days” after Tumblety’s the 1880 census was 165, 000. Anyone Police San Francisco Ca.: Thanks. Send arrest in London. Significantly, who has studied the city’s local his- handwriting and all details you can Tumblety’s connection to the San tory knows that its opium dens, whore of Tumblety. ANDERSON, Scotland Francisco would not be reported in houses, “Barabary Coast,” and street Yard. the local press until November 19th, gangs made it an extremely rough city The key point is that Anderson’s when The Examiner reprinted a long in the 1880s. Crowley would have been reply is dated November 22nd--in other and rather important article from the a very busy man — one not likely to words, three days after Crowley sent New York Herald, stating, in part, that have launched an extensive investiga- his now lost telegram on the 19th. Tumblety was “a Canadian,” and that tion on the strength of a foreign news- This significance of this has been “the doctor had offices at various times paper dispatch. At the very least, it ignored by all subsequent historians. in Jersey City, Pittsburgh and San surely must have been a slow day for In 1888, it was technologically impos- Francisco.” the Chief of Police. sible to send instantaneous messages This is damning, for we know Further, in the general scheme between London and San Francisco. that the 19th was the same day that of things, it’s the investigating police Telegraph communication between the Crowley telegraphed Robert Anderson force (in this case, Scotland Yard) who two cities was no easy matter, requir- at Scotland Yard. In other words, we seeks information about a suspect — ing multi-station dispatches across have to accept that Chief Crowley, who not a distant police department offering the entire breadth of North America, hadn’t laid eyes on Tumblety in over unsolicited advice. Again, an important and then a separate and expensive eighteen years, if ever, decided to factor is that we don’t actually have cablegram sent across the Atlantic at launch an extensive local investigation the official correspondence that passed Halifax, payable to the private com- (one report has his second in command, between Crowley and the officials at pany that owned the cable. Once the

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer message reached the west coast of the Whitechapel murder case, so obvi- of 1888. In reality, Tumblety’s con- England, it then had to be forwarded ously there would have been a police nection to San Francisco was more to London. investigation by the authorities in extensive than even the local press Yet, by November 23rd, three London. While the C.I.D. made inqui- realized. 1870 was not the last time separate San Francisco newspapers ries, news of Tumblety’s gross inde- he practiced ‘medicine’ in the city. On were all reporting that Crowley and cency case filtered back to America via Tuesday, December 21, 1875, the list Scotland Yard had exchanged “consid- London, when it was leaked by some- for “Overland Travel” to San Francisco erable correspondence.” If Crowley had one at the Marlborough Police Court. lists “Dr. Tingblety, New York,” and truly launched his investigation back The two events roughly coincided, but three days later a “Dr. Tumbletz, New on November 19th this would be inex- there is no reason to believe this leak York” booked a room at the Palace plicable; none of the critics have yet somehow “inspired,” a unilateral police Hotel. Oddly, Tumblety was soon back explained how this “considerable cor- investigation in America. at No. 20 Montgomery Street — the respondence” could have taken place, So what could have inspired same office he used in 1870 — and his when the only known telegram and Robert Anderson to contact far away advertisements can be found in The its response took fully three days to San Francisco? According to the San San Francisco Chronicle at the begin- complete. Clearly, this suggests that Francisco press, Tumblety had not ning of 1876.21 Then, just as suddenly, Crowley and Anderson were in con- practiced in the city since 1870, and he left for St. Louis. Yet, he would be tact before November 19th — when this chapter of his life seems very far back again. Tumblety’s sister Jane the story first ‘broke’ in the local press, removed indeed from the Whitechapel Hayes ran a boarding house in Vallejo, who then ran with it. There is often an irresistible urge among historians to assume that one news of Tumblety’s contemporary event has a direct rela- tionship with another, when, in reality, gross indecency the connection may actually be indirect. Rather than an American police chief case filtered being ‘inspired’ by contemporary news reports of Tumblety’s London arrest, back to America there is a far more simple explanation. Tumblety was ‘among the suspects’ in via London

21. Tumblety’s advertisements lasted from Christmas Day, 1875 to January 19, 1876.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 84 at the upper end of San Francisco Bay, up evidence” against the abscond- and according to reports in the Vallejo ing Bermondsey murderess, Maria Chronicle, Tumblety made an exten- Manning.22 Similarly, Met Assistant sive visit there sometime before 1882. Commissioner James Monro kept close More to the point, all the reports tabs on London bank transactions in coming out of San Francisco agree on 1887, allowing him to trace the Irish- one detail: for some unknown reason, American dynamiter, Thomas Callan, Police Chief Crowley’s local investiga- who had been hiding in London as one tion quickly homed in on the records of of the agents of the Clan na Gael’s the Hibernia Bank. “Jubilee Plot.”23 It’s unlikely that this was inci- Concerning the events of 1888, dental. In these years before Interpol, we know that Tumblety made bail on photo identification, or electronic pass- November 16th. Eight days later, he ports, bank transactions were one of the left Le Havre under an alias. We also few reliable methods of tracing a fugi- know that he accessed at least one tive. An inquisitive police department bank account during that flight — could search ship passenger lists or when he wired Henry Clews and Co., hotel registers, but these efforts would of New York, on November 20th. While be thwarted if a suspect was using an it remains pure conjecture, if, some- alias. By contrast, anyone wishing to time earlier, Tumblety had also wired draw on a bank account has to reveal the Hibernia Bank, it would readily his identity. And we know, in fact, that explain how Chief Crowley so quickly Victorian Scotland Yard did keep close learned of his abandoned bank account Jo n a t h a n Wh i c h e r tabs on bank transactions. During the — and why Scotland Yard was so obvi- 1840s and 50s, Scotland Yard’s most ously interested. Tumblety from the American police? If prominent officer, Detective Inspector But let’s not lose sight of the gen- one accepts the Chronicle’s report, he Jonathan Whicher, made a special eral point. Did Robert Anderson, the didn’t — at least initially. Other local study of tracing bank notes; in 1849, Assistant Commissioner in charge of papers were far more circumspect, how- this expertise helped Whicher “shore the C.I.D., ‘solicit’ information about ever. Regardless, on November 22nd,

22. Kate Summerscale, The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher (2008) p. 69 23. The Times, November 29, 1887, p.8

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer Anderson asked Crowley to send “all who is under arrest in England on the details you can of Tumblety” — which charge of indecent assault. Tumblety certainly sounds like a solicitation. is referred to in the dispatch in the fol- Fortunately, this point can be laid lowing manner: “He says he is known to rest. San Francisco was not the only to you, Chief, as Brooklyn’s Beauty.” police department in America that Tumblety was arrested in London Anderson contacted that week.The some weeks ago as the supposed same day that Anderson wired Chief Whitechapel murderer. Since his incar- Crowley in San Francisco, he also ceration in prison he has boasted of wired Chief Patrick Campbell of the how he had succeeded in baffling the Brooklyn Police Department. And the police. He also claimed that he was details leave no doubt whatsoever that a resident of Brooklyn, and this was it was Anderson who was initiating the what caused the Deputy Chief of Police inquiry. Further, it becomes clear that to communicate with Superintendent Anderson’s investigation was based on Campbell. The superintendent gave information gleaned while Tumblety the dispatch immediate attention, was in police custody. and through Captain Eason, of the The Brooklyn Citizen broke the Second Precinct, has learned all about story on November 23rd. Tumblety. He came to this city in 1863 “Is He The Ripper?” from Sherbrook, Canada, where he said A Brooklynite Charged With the he had been a practicing physician. He Whitechapel Murders opened a store on the southeast corner Superintendent Campbell Asked by the of Fulton and Nassau streets, and sold Ch e i f Pa t r i c k Ca m p b e ll London Police to Hunt Up the Record herb preparations. He did a tremendous of Francis Tumblety — Captain Eason business and deposited in the Brooklyn doing their level best to fasten the Supplies the Information and It Is Savings Bank at least $100 a day. He Whitechapel murders upon Dr. F. T. Interesting was a very eccentric character, six feet Tumblety.” Police Superintendent Campbell high, dark complexion, large and long Today Police Superintendent received a cable dispatch yesterday flowing mustache, and well built. Campbell received a telegram from from Mr. Anderson, the deputy chief of The Brooklyn Standard-Union Assistant Police Commissioner the London Police, asking him to make also covered the story, adding the com- Anderson, acting Chief since the res- some inquiries about Francis Tumblety, ment, “the London Police are evidently ignation of Police Commissioner

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 86 Warren,24 in reference to Tumblety. Chief Campbell, incidentally, of good business instincts, and in New Mr. Anderson wants some informa- doesn’t seems to have ever taken York his behavior was that of a man tion as to his life in Brooklyn, and says Tumblety particularly seriously, dis- who had no liking for women.”25 he is accused of indecent assault in missing him, as many contemporary Crowley’s final comment is London, where some say he was known observers still do, as a “crank” — the remarkable, for it dates to November as “Brooklyn’s Beauty.” same term that would be used by Police 22nd — long before the well-known, Chief Campbell has investigated, Captain Lees in San Francisco. How controversial, and damaging ‘Colonel and will send a complete report by mail. much stock one can put in this is Dunham’ interview was published by He says he was born in Sherbrooke, unclear; there’s little indication that the New York World on December 2nd. Canada, of Irish parents, but professes these officers knew Tumblety particu- Timothy Riordan has stated “none of to be a Southerner. He was last seen larly well, beyond his eccentric marches the early reports in November 1888 here about eighteen months ago. The in the streets many years earlier. What mention anything about Tumblety’s Chief is also looking for a pamphlet it does imply, however, is that the sus- hatred of woman,” suggesting that that Tumblety prepared, and which picions against Tumblety in 1888 were “after the Dunham story was pub- purported to be a history of himself.” entirely based on Scotland Yard’s own lished, Tumblety’s “well-known hatred Clearly, Dr. Robert Anderson, investigation, and not on the opinions of woman,” becomes a standard part of head of the C.I.D., was soliciting infor- of those in America. Indeed, in the one his description.”26 Unfortunately, what mation about Tumblety in the United instant where Chief Patrick Crowley is Riordan is suggesting is untrue. Here, States by November 22nd. Further, quoted, he leaves the decided impres- ten days before Dunham, the Chief the investigation in America would sion that the initial interest in Tumblety of Police in San Francisco is already have required considerable effort and was not his own. Crowley also appears referring to Tumblety’s misogyny. It’s expense; Campbell in Brooklyn was to have taken a dimmer view of ‘cranks,’ all the more startling because no San composing a written report, and was than his fellow officers in blue. Francisco paper or New York dispatch hunting down a copy of Tumblety’s Talking of the affair yesterday had referred to Tumblety’s hatred — pamphlet (one version, we now know, [Chief Crowley] said: “There may be leaving us to wonder where Crowley included a photograph), while Crowley more in the arrest that was at first sup- was gleaning this information. It was in San Francisco was photographing posed. This man Tumblety is evidently evidently from a local informant, per- Tumblety’s correspondence with the a crank. His course with the bank here haps Charles F. Smythe; it’s clearly Hibernia Bank. does not indicate that he was a man not a press source.

24. This is an error; Warren’s resignation didn’t become final until November 30th. 25. The San Francisco Examiner, November 23, 1888. 26. Riordan, op. cit. p. 170. 26. Riordan, op. cit. p. 170.

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer Meanwhile, key documents have stage the negotiations that would before November 27th.The following been lost, but let’s reiterate what we eventually bring Inspector Andrews day, November 28th, in one of his last do know. to Canada were still ongoing. The acts as Met Police Commissioner, Sir Back on November 7th, Francis authorities in Toronto, blissfully Charles Warren perfunctorily wired Tumblety had been picked up in unaware that Barnett’s extradition Police Chief Grassett in Toronto, alert- London, but, by all appearances was papers had been filed in London on ing him to the fact that an officer was quickly given police bail. Two days November 6th were still scrambling bringing Barnett over. later, Mary Kelly was murdered in to get Barnett’s extradition in order.27 London, 28 Nov. the East End. On November 14th a Meanwhile, on November 22nd, Chief Constable — By Fugitive warrant was issued for Tumblety’s Robert Anderson at the C.I.D. wired Offender’s Act prisoner must be surren- arrest, and now back in custody, he both the Brooklyn and San Francisco dered within thirty days after commit- was charged with four counts of gross police departments, requesting an tal. Time expires 6th December.Officer indecency and four counts of indecent investigation of Tumblety. It wasn’t must be sent from here.Will leave assault. Nonetheless, on November until the next day, November 23rd, tomorrow. 16th, he again made bail. that Godfrey Lushington responded Commissioner Metropolitan Police.28 News of Tumblety’s arrest leaked to Anderson’s request to send an offi- True to Warren’s promise, the back to America from a London cer to Canada, telling him he had for- next day, November 29th, Inspector source dated November 17th, and by warded the request to the Colonial Andrews boarded the S.S. Sarnia, November 18th, reports coming out of Office. Concurrently, Chief Campbell bound for Canada. New York were claiming, erroneously, in Brooklyn was reporting (again, Despite claims to the contrary, one that Tumblety was a Canadian.26 The erroneously) that Tumblety was from can readily see that Robert Anderson’s following day, November 19th, Robert Sherbrooke, Quebec. bureaucratic gyrations to send a man Anderson began negotiations to send a By now, Tumblety had already to North America and the C.I.D.’s man to Canada, using the extradition of slipped over to France, for he would sail investigation of Francis Tumblety’s Roland Barnett as a vehicle; that same out of Le Havre under an alias the fol- American antecedents dovetail per- afternoon, Police Chief Patrick Crowley lowing morning. Again, whether or not fectly. The same week that Anderson in San Francisco wired Anderson with the Canadians would pay for Inspector found a way to pay for Andrew’s news that he had found samples of Andrews’ trip to Canada was still up voyage, he was personally conducting Tumblety’s handwriting. in the air; there is no indication that an inquiry into Tumblety. Further, A critical point is that at this they had officially agreed to the terms considering the reports coming out of

27. The New York Tribune, November 19, 1888. 28. See Vanderlinden, Ripper Notes No. 24, p. 24-25. 29. Reprinted in the Toronto Mail, November 29, 1888.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 88 New York — and these were circulated have been relevant to a gross indecency arguments still remain: persistent well before Andrews boarded the S.S. case; Anderson already had four mate- rumors that Andrews was actually in Sarnia — Anderson may well have been rial witnesses, and enough evidence North America on behalf of The Times’ under the impression that Tumblety to have filed formal charges with the “Parnell” Commission, and the oddity was a Canadian. What is particularly Treasury. Obviously, Anderson’s inter- that he would spend nearly all of his astonishing is that these maneuvers est in Tumblety ran much deeper. time in Toronto, Ontario — a world were being conducted by the very To sum up. Nothing we have away from London’s East End. Both head of the C.I.D. — which certainly learned so far rules out the possibil- these points will be examined in the seems extraordinary and excessive if ity that Andrews was sent to North last installment of this series. Taken Anderson’s interest merely concerned America to investigate Francis together, they finally shed a blinding a defendant in a gross indecency Tumblety. Indeed, the chronology is light on the bizarre events unfolding at indictment. After all, Tumblety’s ante- compelling. It’s fair to point out, how- the end of 1888. cedents in America would have hardly ever, that the two strongest opposing to be continued…

Have a comment about something you read Biography in this issue? R.J.Palmer Write a letter now to the Examiner at .J. Palmer lives and works in is researching a book on the Irish Eugene, Oregon. He began Nationalist journalist Jeremiah [email protected] Rstudying the Whitechapel O’Donovan Rossa. Murder case in 1989, after taking Donald Rumbelow’s classic tour of London’s East End. Currently, he

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tumblety & A Voyage To Canada R.J.Palmer A Red Rose? Stewart P. Evans

or some time it has been debated in Ripper circles that surely the Fcolour red could not be identified by a witness at night in the murky, gas lit streets of Victorian London. After all, it is a known fact that artificial light affects colours as perceived by the human eye. Yet when we examine the evidence given by various night-time witnesses we see the colour red men- tioned more than once. For instance, PC 452H William Smith stated that on the night of the Stride murder, in Berner Street, he saw a man and a woman talking in the street. The woman had a red rose. Witness Edward Spooner stated that he saw the body of Stride in the entrance to Dutfield’s Yard and she had ‘a red and white flower pinned on to her jacket.’ Within the hour, Joseph Lawende, a witness at the inquest on the second victim of that night, Catherine Eddowes, described a man he saw with a woman (believed to be Eddowes) as wearing ‘a reddish

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 90 Ka t e Ed d o w e s a n d t h e Ri p p e r s e e n b y Jo s e p h La w e n d e a n d f r i e n d s

Ar t e f a c t s s u p p o s e d ly f o u n d w i t h Li z St r i d e

A Red Rose? Stewart Evans handkerchief tied in a knot, round sufficient of them to suggest that the perceived colour of an object may vary neck’. Are these witnesses lying or mis- colour red was certainly discernable in according to the eye of the viewer and taken about the colour red they have the available lighting of the time. Yet, the light by which it is viewed. Colour seen? arguments still are often made to sup- is not fixed and invariable; it is capable Famously, not to say more contro- port personal theories and ideas and so of an incredibly wide range of varia- versially, we have the description given they continue to be proffered and the tion. Surprising as it may seem, in the of a suspect seen, by police witness argument that red could not be recogn- days of street lighting by gas there was George Hutchinson, with Mary Kelly in ised at night in Victorian lighting con- actually little difficulty in making fairly the early hours of Friday 9 November ditions still crops up. Personally I have accurate assessments of the colour of 1888, the morning of her murder. always assumed that the witnesses garments and other objects. Without going into the complex argu- knew what they were talking about in To better explain the facts con- It would be most difficult for us to reproduce the exact lighting conditions ments surrounding this sighting we this respect, otherwise they would not cerned with colour vision it is easier have Hutchinson stating that Kelly have mentioned a colour. to regard the colour detection mecha- ‘said she had lost her handkerchief he The point does, however, seem nism of the eye as consisting of three then pulled his handkerchief a red one to warrant further investigation and different systems, each responding to a out and gave it to her.’ Those who would it would be interesting to discover limited range of frequencies within the have it that Hutchinson was lying and whether these witnesses could actu- visible range. One is sensitive to the making up his statement say that he ally have recognised a red flower or a lower frequencies of light radiation and surely would not have been able to see red handkerchief in the ambient light- gives rise to the colour sensation we that the handkerchief was red. ing conditions. We know that today recognise as red. The second, mainly It would be most difficult for us the common, intense, sodium, orange, sensitive to the middle-range frequen- to reproduce the exact lighting con- street lighting does render colours cies, gives rise to the colour sensation ditions in which the aforementioned unrecognisable, red usually being we call green. The third, sensitive to sightings were made. But there are perceived as a shade of brown. The the higher frequencies, gives rise to the

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 92 colour blue. These three colour appre- frequencies of the visible spectrum in solids, such as carbon particles, will be ciation ‘systems’ are not of equal sen- fair intensity so that its composition deficient in blue as compared with sun- sitivity and the normal human eye is resembles daylight. Daylight, of course, light. This will result in the tilting of most sensitive to light which is yellow- renders the colours of an object in what the colours towards the red. green. Quite an appreciable proportion we would generally call natural colour. For a person with normal vision of the population have colour sensitiv- Although daylight varies from the very dim lighting, where any or all the ity which differ from the majority and bright light of high noon to the reddish light frequencies are present, will dis- it is amongst them that colour blind- light of a dull afternoon, the human eye tort the colour rendering resulting in ness is to be found. is so adjustable that the effect of such an absence of colour, everything being When the light source is very dim changes normally passes unnoticed. rendered in shades of grey. The incan- no distinction can be made between the But here we are concerned not with day- descent gas-mantle or flame, which is light of different frequencies so that all light but with the night-time Victorian lacking in blue but rich in red, results vision is in tones of grey, such as in a illumination experienced by our wit- in reds that are well rendered; whilst black and white photograph. Whatever nesses. The old street lighting was pro- greens would be darkened, and blues or the colour of an object may be in full duced by burning gas. In a candle or an violets may become almost black. So we daylight, once the intensity of illumi- oil lamp flame the incandescence raised may safely say that the old gas-burn- nation has been sufficiently reduced, by combustion consists of tiny particles ing lighting of Victorian days would any colour disappears as the colour of carbon, and in an incandescent gas have rendered the colour red as easily sensing mechanism of the eye ceases mantle a layer of rare earth oxides. The discernable to a witness, whereas with to function. From this it will be noted higher the temperature the higher the a modern street lighting system the that as the witnesses we are looking frequency of the bulk of the radiation opposite would be the case. The forego- at here have identified colour then the it emits. Light emitted from a very hot ing should therefore be taken into con- ambient Victorian lighting was suffi- source contains the whole of the visible sideration when assessing the accuracy ciently bright enough, at that location, spectrum although the intensities at of the witnesses in the Ripper case. to allow the colour sensitivity of the the higher end of the spectrum will be eyes to function. Most objects reflect lower than that of daylight. Such a spec- Acknowledgments light over a wide range of frequencies trum is known as a continuous spec- Thanks are due to Wilson R. Harrison, so that both colour and brightness can trum and any coloured object viewed M.Sc., Ph.D., late director of the Home be altered by changes in the make-up by the light of a continuous spectrum Office Forensic Science Laboratory, the light shining on the object. will not appear unduly different in Cardiff, for invaluable information uti- To give good colour rendering, colour from its appearance in daylight. lised in the composition of this article. artificial light must include all the Artificial light produced from heating

A Red Rose? Stewart Evans Undercover Our regular read between the lines. Investigations Undercover Investigations Carroty Nell: The Last Victim of Jack the Ripper John E Keefe

2010 Menotomy Publishing 184pp, Illus.

hen we turn and look towards form that deal with individual our shelves, or open our women, we have the magazines Wtrunks, or climb down stairs themselves, and, of course, the to our dark basements and glance Internet and message boards. But at our collection of Ripper books, one books are in many ways better, in type of book we are not likely to pos- my opinion, if only because they look sess in any large number are books neat when they are displayed. that are devoted entirely to a single So it was with some heightened victim of Jack the Ripper (meaning a interest that I opened the pages of victim pulled from the Ripperological John E Keefe’s book Carroty Nell. Not abyss and given a book treatment in only was this a rarity, in that the book isolation). We do have a book telling claimed to be one focusing on a single the stories of all of the Canonical Five victim, but doubly rare since the sub- and their descendants, we have a book ject-victim fell outside of the popular about what little we know of Mary Canonical Five. Frances Coles, ‘Carroty Kelly, and we might have a book or two Nell,’ was murdered in the arched pas- on Elizabeth Stride, even if one of those sageway of Swallow Gardens a full fif- is in Swedish. We do not complain too teen months after Jack’s supposedly loudly since we have compilations of final victim, Mary Jane Kelly, met her magazine articles and essays in book fate in Miller’s Court.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 95 The book was not a huge disap- The problem with this is that victims of the Whitechapel murderer. pointment, but it was a mild one and the above part — the interesting part He makes much of the statement of that might actually be an endorsement and supposedly the subject — actu- Coles’ sister, Mary Ann, that Frances of the book in this particular field where ally comprises very little of the book. did not wish to talk to, look like, or many books are awful. Mr, Keefe is a We are treated to a lengthy overview associate at all with other women in good writer and supplies us with much of the Whitechapel murder case that her poor circumstance and one gets detail, most of it accurate, and uses comprises nearly the entire first half, the feeling that Keefe himself might contemporary sources to illustrate his the section on Coles, her murder, the believe Coles was somehow better than the other victims. He also makes dec- larations that some readers might find …making what argument with, such as that Coles and Kelly were the only “full-time” prosti- may be a familiar tutes killed during the Ripper scare, all the others being only “casual” tale to most of us, streetwalkers. So readers of this magazine may compelling… wish to purchase this book, skip the first half, conditionally admire the sec- narrative well. He is to be thanked for investigation and Sadler’s tribulations tion on the Coles murder, and then his efforts to bring us the sad story of follow this, and then the author wraps enjoy the last part—but only if you go Frances Coles between the covers of his book by quickly skimming over for Chapman as the killer. a book. We learn (maybe for the first the main suspects before settling on We need more books devoted to the time) the extremely hard luck-to-the- of Severin Klowsowski as the best of a victims individually so as to see them workhouse story of her parents and bad bunch. The readers will not be sur- as individuals. Frances Coles needs siblings and Frances’ early fall onto prised at this choice since Klosowski/ one too; unfortunately, she needs one a the streets. He relates her final days Chapman’s name is sprinkled through- bit better than Carroty Nell. and hours on earth in such minute out the text prior to this chapter like detail and examines the aftermath of so many drops of tartar-emetic. her murder in such a well-written way I also feel that Mr Keefe, con- that he succeeds in making what may sciously or subconsciously, attempts be a familiar tale to most of us, com- to elevate the status of his choice of Our rating pelling once again. subject above those other unfortunate Jonathan Menges

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 96 Undercover Investigations London Job 2010 Murder and Crime Series Andrew Firth, et al.

2010 Blurb, Paperback, 120 pages, mostly illustrations £16.95 ($29.95)

any of us can probably think and Limehouse, of few more pleasant ways although it also Mto spend a weekend than provides glimpses traipsing around the East End in of familiar sights the company of a congenial coterie of in Spitalfields and Ripperologists. That is the concept Whitechapel. This behind the London Jobs which began time the group was in 2006 and involve bands of aficio- composed of Neil nados visiting Ripper-related sites Bell, John Bennett, and taking loads of photographs. The Trevor Bond, Robert results of these excursions have often Clack, Gail Dowle, been featured on various Casebook Andrew Firth, Philip threads, but this is first time that they Hutchinson, Laura have appeared in print. Is reading this Prieto, Mark Ripper book as good as being able to go on and Peter Whitby, such an outing? Well, frankly, no. But all armed with cameras it comes pretty close. and more than their Most of the usual locations were share of talent. visited during earlier Jobs, so this All the photographers one concentrates on Poplar, Shadwell are very accomplished but

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 97 Andrew Firth, in particular, has an exceptionally good eye. He makes effec- tive use of odd angles and close-ups and is able to reinterpret even very famil- iar subjects, such as The Ten Bells, Christ Church, and the Wentworth Dwellings in Goulston Street in strik- ing new ways. Rob Clack continues his sterling work and is now experi- menting with ultra wide-angle com- posite shots. His photo of the corner of Henriques and Fairclough streets is stunning. The book concludes with The book a witty, informative essay by Neil Bell and short contributions by three of the concludes other participants. For those of us who do not live in with a witty, London, or close enough to get there regularly, books such as this are a informative essay boon. This one is professionally pro- duced and highly recommended. by Neil Bell

Our rating Ken Whiteway (The Grave Maurice)

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 98 Undercover Investigations Sherlock Holmes and the Ripper Brian Clemens

2010 Audio CD Big Finish Ltd. w w w .b i g f i n i s h .c o m £14.99 for CD or £12.99 for download

his is an audio CD of a work of The produc- fiction by Brian Clemens that tion values are Thas much to recommend it. To also of a very high begin with, the cast is outstanding, standard. So good, headed by Nicholas Briggs as Holmes in fact, that while and Richard Earl as Dr. Watson. listening to it the Briggs is perhaps best known as the first time I had to “voice of the Daleks” in Dr. Who while get up and answer Earl has appeared on the London the door. Except that stage in several plays, particularly The I realized with cha- Portrait of Dorian Gray. The rest of grin that the “knock- The first such the cast has equally glittering credits ing” had been on the operation was not per- that include such familiar perennials CD and not my door. A formed until December 1888 and until as EastEnders, Coronation Street and good deal of research went into the story the early 1930s were referred to as Dr. Who. Overall, they do a first-rate as well, such that one actor actually felt “leukotomies.” job and Briggs and Earl pull off their compelled to visit the grave of Sir Robert It is, however, a work of roles without any of the irksome quirks Anderson, and there is a good analysis by fiction — not a documentary — and and mannerisms that detract from all Holmes of the “Dear Boss” letter. There that may cause problems for some. too many presentations of Holmes and was one glaring anachronism, how- Without at all giving away the sur- Watson. ever, when lobotomies are mentioned. prises, among the roles in this story

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 99 are John Netley, William Gull, Annie Crook and Walter Sickert and that there is a good should give one an idea where the plot is headed. For this reason, the CD analysis by may not appeal to all Ripperologists, but since many in the field are also Holmes of the devout Holmesians it should have a good market niche as it is superbly “Dear Boss” performed and presented. Moreover, Big Finish has several other Sherlock letter. Holmes stories planned or already on CD so those who can’t get enough of Holmes — and their number is legion — should definitely visit the company’s website.

Our rating D.O. Souden

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 100 Undercover Investigations the victims took Five Daughters to the street, Written by Stephen Butchard knowing the Director Philippa Lowthorpe Staring: Sarah Lancashire, killer was likely Ian Hart, Jamie Winstone to be around the BBC1 Broadcast 25th, 26th and 27th April 2010 corner

his drama, focusing on the victims of the 2006 Suffolk TStrangler murderer, was an excellent production. The cast brought the women and their families to the screen with dignity and sympathy. The drama was put together with the coop- eration of the police and the victims’ families but was nonetheless a no holds barred account, showing the sinister underworld of drugs and prostitution the women had become involved in as well as their battles against it and how it had affected them and their families. It was a powerful, disturbing and sad- dening account of lives cut short by the tragic effect of an addiction to drugs.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 101 Undercover Investigations

The programme showed harrowing scenes as some of the victims took to the street, knowing the killer was likely to be around the corner, and even though one knew the outcome it had one wish- ing for an alternate scenario as it truly brought the reality of these five women’s lives and deaths home by showing them as real people. It also portrayed the police investigation, including the shock of the investigators when Steve Wright was found to be the killer through DNA evidence. By focusing on the women and not the killer the programme makers were able to make an absorbing and realistic account of the murders from the perspec- tive of the women and their friends and families. It was also able to do justice to all five women’s stories by spreading the account over three episodes. It was a very harrowing account and one that brought tears to this viewer’s eyes on a number of occasions. Indeed it proved to be a drama that made one think. It has yet to be confirmed if the programme is to be released on DVD in the near future, but we can only hope that it will be as it was a gripping programme and Our rating one that is recommended highly. Jennifer Shelden

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 102 Undercover Investigations The Girl in Alfred Hitchcock’s Shower Robert Graysmith

2010 Titan Books, London Paperback, pp307, biblio, index, illus £8.99

f you are a fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s about the shower sequence film Psycho and want to know in Psycho (which it describes Isome interesting facts about the in fascinating detail), but shower sequence in that movie and instead is one that is labelled the real woman behind it, then you as true crime. Indeed the back will find this book a pleasant and cover blurb states it is a real compelling read. The woman men- life crime that Graysmith is tioned in the title of this book is not determined to solve and indi- Janet Leigh but her body double by cates further still that it might the name of Marli Renfro as she was not have been Marli Renfro who used as a nude double for much of that was murdered at all, a double sequence. After a few further ventures mystery. Graysmith, is well into dubious movie roles she faded into known for his Zodiac killer book, obscurity. This is indeed a book that which was the subject of a recent contains many interesting facts that film, heightening expectations in will entertain movie buffs. However, regards to true crime credentials. as good as this book is in these regards How unfortunate then, for those of it does profess to be, not a biography us who might rightly think a book of an obscure character (which it pulls we picked up in a true crime section off with interest) or indeed a book might contain a murder mystery, that

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 103 its tenuous true crime link did it no good whatsoever

it does not actually get to the point of While the story of these crimes is not doubles to stand-ins, or even that same explaining the murder of the woman altogether uninteresting, particularly movie’s alleged impact on the mind of in the title (or indeed how anyone as to how the film Psycho may have murderers, this book would have been may have come to be murdered in her been an influence on the murderer, a good read. However, its tenuous true place) in any detail in the narrative one might rightly think, from the way crime link did it no good whatsoever. until page 274 (of a book of 307 pages, it is interspersed with the biographi- It is probably therefore best left to those this is quite a way in!) The narrative cal details about Marli Renfro and who are fascinated, not by true crimes, is instead largely about the filming her role in Psycho that these killings but by Hitchcock and his shower. of Psycho, the films subsequent suc- were related to the murder mentioned cess and what Marli Renfro did next on the jacket of the book. However, if and this is interspersed with details you thought this you would be wrong. about an appalling set of crimes car- If the author had set out to write about ried out at the time, in which a series the people involved in the making Our rating of women were raped and murdered. of Psycho’s shower scene, from body Jennifer Shelden

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 104 Undercover Investigations Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie & Clyde Jeff Guinn

2010 Pocket Books, London paperback, 480pp, biblio, illus, index

onnie and Clyde (or in fact more the beginning to point out that both correctly, Clyde and Bonnie, as Clyde and Bonnie came from poor Bthe author of this book, rightly families and started out life from a points out) are often romanticised fig- position of distinct disadvantage, but ures. However, in this latest extensive it was still their choice to go into the biography Jeff Guinn attempts to clear life they decided upon; many in simi- the rose-tinted myths and produce a lar situations instead attempted to book that offers a factual account of live an honest life. Guinn pants a pic- what life was like in the Barrow Gang. ture of bumbling misfits rather than He paints a picture of an unglamor- of criminal masterminds. There does ous life on the run and pulling off seem to be an honest love story at the very few robberies that reap amazing centre of Bonnie and Clyde’s tale, and rewards, and fewer still without the as Guinn is keen to point out from the help of others. The pair apparently title onwards, this is perhaps why they often slept rough, were constantly on inevitably died together. For those the run or being actively pursued and interested in this era of American his- towards the end Bonnie was badly tory or in the story of Bonnie and Clyde injured, barely able to walk; this was this book offers a fresh insight. not a life of glamour but one of abject Our rating poverty and misery. Guinn is keen in Jennifer Shelden

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Undercover Investigations The Crimes of Paris A True Story of Murder, Theft, and Detection Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler

2009 Little Brown and Co Hardback 320pp, illus.

ramed around the 1911 theft of Catherine Eddowes and the second ever the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, published photo of Mary Kelly. This Fthis book weaves an array of das- book is recommended as it provides a Our rating tardly Parisian villains throughout its view on the violence and crimes that Jonathan Menges pages, as well as providing a social his- ran parallel to the Whitechapel mur- tory of the City of Lights underworld at ders across the Channel, as well as a the dawn of the 20th century. Amongst good education on the various detection the Victorian and Edwardian criminals and policing methods that were being discussed is Joseph Vacher, the French developed and put to use in France at Ripper, whose murders were the basis the time that the London police were for Lacassagne’s Vacher l’Eventreur blindfolded and baffled. et les Crimes Sadiques that gave us the first published photographs of …an array of dastardly Parisian villains…

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 106 Undercover Investigations Defend the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5 Christopher Andrew & Alfred A Knopf

2009 Hardback 1032pp, illustrated. (N.B Paperback published 3/6/2010 by Penguin Books)

ou’ll look at this massive book most valuable to students of the late- as either the perfect doorstop Victorian era. You might find yourself Yor a thorough and fascinating questioning your image of Melville as Our rating source of information about the British the first James Bond after reading this Jonathan Menges Secret Service. But what might interest introductory section. our readers is the section on the forma- tion and early years of the MI5 (called the MO2 and MO3) headed by “retired” either the Special Branch Superintendent William Melville. Melville shares these perfect pages with the shadowy and compel- ling character of William Le Queux, doorstop or a one of the first and certainly the most famous of spy novel authors of the time thorough and and who may have been an intelligence officer himself. But it is the tidbits fascinating of information the book provides on Melville’s personality, background and source of role as Russian Okhrana spy-catcher (culled from primary sources) that is information

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 107 Undercover Investigations: From The Library Shelves The Peasenhall Murder elcome to our fictitious library, contain- ing all the best books on all the subjects Wthat are of interest to True Crime researchers. This edition we are going to pull out all the books that we can find in our library that deal with the 1902 unsolved Peasenhall murder case. This case shocked a tiny Suffolk village when Rose Harsent was savagely murdered by having her throat cut. There were two trials of the same man, William Gardiner, and he was twice acquit- ted. To some this case was a miscarriage of jus- tice, to others it remains an unsolved crime.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 108 Undercover Investigations: From the Library Shelves

The Trial Of The Peasenhall Mystery: William Gardiner: A re-assessment of the Notable British Trial Series famous unsolved murder Edited by John Rowland William Henderson 1962 John Long London 1934 Hodge Hardback Hardback, pp175, index, biblio

his 1930s book is one for col- n excellent account of lectors. It comes from the the case, that concludes Trespected Notable British Trials AGardiner had a case to series. However, trying to get hold of answer. If you are after an in- a copy today might be more difficult depth account then this book and expensive than most are prepared is well worth a read as it pro- to spend; for example, we spotted a vides a good overview. It was copy on Amazon.com retailing for over released in the 1960s, so it $260. is a book that would be best sourced at a library or bought second-hand. We found it sell- ing for approximately £20 at various on-line booksellers.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 109 Undercover Investigations: From the Library Shelves

The Peasenhall Murder The Peasenhall Murder The Women of Peasenhall Martin Fido Edwin Packer Reginald James White & Keith Skinner Forward by Richard 1980, revised 1981 Yoxford Macmillan Whittington-Egan Publications, Saxmundham, Suffolk Hardback, pp160 Paperback, pp55, biblio, illus 1990 Sutton his is a novel that portrays Paperback, pp202, index, biblio, illus hough this is a small printed the events surrounding Rose booklet, it is nonetheless packed THarsent’s death. f all the books we pulled from Twith information. It serves as a our library for this issue, it is good introduction to the case and we Onatural that Ripperologists will found it available second-hand for about gravitate towards this volume. That £10 at various on-line stores. is, as it contains the efforts of not one, but four separate Ripper authorities. It is Fido and Skinner’s first collab- orative book and it also has a forward written by Richard Whittington-Egan and input from Stewart P. Evans. It is also the most up to date book available that is devoted entirely to this case. Interestingly, Keith Skinner’s grand- father, Alfonso Skinner, was a witness at the original trial and this personal interest sparked his research. We found the book second hand on sale at Amazon for £5 and a signed first edi- tion on sale at Lay Books for £25.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 110 Undercover Investigations: From the Library Shelves They Also

This case also features in: Wrote... Julian Fellowes Investigates A Most Mysterious Murder Robin Odell is well known in the Ripper community for his Jack the Ripper 2006 Acorn Media books, but did you know that he is DVD – certificate 12, PAL, also the author of Exhumation of running time 300 minutes Murder: The Life and Trial of Major his DVD, released Armstrong, a comprehensive study in 2006 to accom- of the Hay Poisoner, published in Tpany a TV series, has an episode about the paperback by Mandrake in 2006? Peasenhall case and can be picked up new on-line for £20.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 111 Undercover Investigations: Open Book Exam Holmes and the Ripper? Don Souden

pen-book Exam is the first of a planned regular feature, an Oexamination of detective fic- tion, from Poe to the present, from a variety of perspectives. There is an abiding affinity for the Sherlock Holmes stories among Ripperologists young and old that exists not only within our hearts and minds but which often spills out as buckets of ink in publications and countless pixels on message boards. At first brush, this marriage of Ripperological and Holmesian passions might seem not only natural but made in Heaven. After all, the two are firmly embedded in that ever- romantic Late Victorian Period: an era that is flicker- ing gas lamps, hansom cabs clattering on cobbles and a last refuge before the unsettling reality of the 20th Century. An o t h e r q u i e t t a l k b e t w e e n Ho l m e s a n d Wa t s o n .

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 112 Undercover Investigations: Open Book Exam

Moreover, there being a bit of an arm- compassion, for the least of those who lowest and vilest alleys in London do chair detective in every Ripperologist, came seeking their help and com- not present a more dreadful record of the common thread of crime-solving fort. Holmes, who was fond of Biblical sin than does the smiling and beautiful must play a major role. allusions, was surely familiar with country-side.” That one as intelligent That said, however, it must be Matthew 25:40 and all it meant. That and learned in the history of crime acknowledged that Whitechapel was a said, however, one must understand a would actually believe that is rather long way from 221-B Baker Street. It few things about Holmes and Watson doubtful. Instead, I would suggest it may have been a fairly short ride on when assessing them in terms of the was only Holmes letting his innate love the Underground, but the two places Ripper murders. They were assuredly of the countryside get the better of his were quite literally worlds apart, even public school boys and university men, reason, even if that love was expressed if Baker Street was crossed by both a with all that implied about their back- in a particularly perverse manner. George Street and a Dorset Street. At grounds and attitudes, however liberal Truth is, I think, that the Baker Street the start of their partnership Watson (in the finest 19th Century sense) their digs were a comfortable haven for did note, in A Study in Scarlet, that instincts. Moreover, for all the years both Holmes and Watson regardless Holmes occasionally took long walks spent in London, they were most com- of where duty might lead them in the “which appeared to take him into the fortable in the country. One might— great metropolis and one that was truly lowest portions of the city.” Whether just—imagine Holmes in disguise as a world apart from Whitechapel. As an those wanderings took Holmes to the a patron at Ringers, and being the example, rough and tumble as were other George or Dorset streets, how- Master he might—again—just have Wiggins and the rest of the “Baker ever, remains uncertain. As it is, one pulled it off in the way he played the Street Irregulars,” there is little doubt rather doubts they did. Holmes may opium fiend in “The Man With the in my mind they’d have been eaten have shown a great rapport with Twisted Lip.” Yet, how many times did alive by the street urchins of Flower housemaids and hostlers, but that was both Holmes and Watson fit seamlessly and Dean. always with those who toiled in the into the milieu of a country pub? That Fact is, neither Holmes or Watson finer homes and who were a far cry was their “home grounds,” so to speak. was likely to have taken any great from the derelict denizens of the East Indeed, Holmes is even on record interest in the Whitechapel murders. End’s Dorset Street. in “the Copper Beeches” as opining For Holmes, those crimes that truly Not that Holmes and Watson that the countryside was far more dan- drew his interest, especially after he were at all snobs, because they often gerous than the most evil rookeries had become “established,” were those displayed genuine interest, even of a city. “It is my belief . . . that the that were strange and preferably

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 113 Undercover Investigations: Open Book Exam

Ho l m e s q u i t e “a t h o m e ” i n a c o u n t r y p u b . Ho l m e s d i s g u i s e d a s a n i d l e r . Wo u l d t h i s p a s s m u s t e r a t t h e Te n Be ll s ?

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 114 Undercover Investigations: Open Book Exam even bizarre; puzzles that required “Resident Patient” and elsewhere) that Holmes thwarts the efforts of a German his astute and unusual powers of rea- he had a real curiosity about mental spymaster on the eve of WWI by posing soning and induction. Nor, though aberrations and the pioneer work of as an Irish-American and infiltrating the Salisbury government was under alienists (as the proto-psychiatrists Irish nationalist organizations. How increasing criticism and gravely con- of the day were termed). Whereas for much easier and convincing that would cerned by the murders, is it likely Holmes, the events in the East End of have been for Holmes had he done the that concern would reach into the cor- 1888 may have elicited no more inter- same thing a quarter-century earlier is ridors of power prowled by brother est than a few more clippings for his quite manifest. If nothing else it must Mycroft. And while the Ripper’s reign commonplace books. open the door to further research for of terror poses a multiplicity of ques- For those devotees who despair both Ripperologists and Holmesians tions for us today, it is quite probable that there was no crossing of paths alike. that from the comfort of Baker Street by the greatest fiend of the era and As it is, despite contemporary crit- in 1888 the bloody killings in the East the greatest detective of all time there icism of the story by those who find it End seemed rather simple: the sordid remains one slim thread upon which to embarrassingly chauvinistic, “His Last slaughter of unfortunates by someone base hope yet—and that is by playing Bow” is still one of my favorite stories quite deranged and hardly requiring the Irish card. The “Green theme”— in the Canon. Not, perhaps, for the the especial talents or attention of the that there was some Fenian connection story itself but for the ending and its Master. the crimes—continues as an ever- evocation of friendship. What could be Indeed, one would quite expect green idea within the minds of many a more fitting finish to that wonderfully that when Holmes and Watson dis- a Ripperologist and that Holmes, at fulfilling partnership and friendship cussed the killings (and surely they the importunities of Mycroft on behalf than Holmes’s words to Watson after must have) that it was Dr. John H. of the government, might have done they had subdued Van Bork: “Stand Watson who was the more exercised some undercover work among the Irish with me upon the terrace, for it may the by the problems posed. After all, if one nationalist groups is not beyond the last quiet talk that we shall ever have.” accepted (as most did) that the mur- realm of conjecture. Of course, we shall As exit lines go, it is one of the best in ders were the product of an unbalanced never know, the books of the Special literature. mind, then Watson would be by far the Branch being sealed unto eternity. more interested of the pair. Watson Still, the idea does gain a cer- not only had the requisite medical tain amount of possible support from background, but had shown (as in the the events of “His Last Bow” in which

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 115 CollectorC s

“I saw a copy of William Stewart’s book Jack the Ripper: A New Theory for sale at £800, how o can I tell if this is a fair/good price?”

Any rare book is worth what a collector is prepared to pay for it. Therefore, if a book dealer prices a copy

with of William Stewart’s book at £800 I doubt that he will r sell it. I have seen overpriced books on the market for Stewart literally years without selling. Even £500 is a bit steep P. Evans for this book, although I know some have paid that.

tewart is widely recognised as a ne r “I damaged my book’s dust cover whilst moving leading authority on the Jack the house, will this affect its re-sale price?” SRipper case. He is the author of sev- eral true crime books including The Man If the dust-wrapper/jacket of a book is damaged to any Who Hunted Jack the Ripper, Executioner degree it will affect the re-sale price. A book with no and The Ultimate Jack the Ripper jacket is worth a lot less than one with. Real collectors Sourcebook. He is also an avid collector of prefer no or little damage to their dust jackets. Jack the Ripper related books and memo- rabilia and in our view this makes him “I heard that Philip Hutchinson and Rob the ideal candidate to answer your ques- tions about Jack the Ripper collectables. Clack’s book The London of Jack the Ripper So, without any more hesitation, let’s turn Then and Now was recently reissued, does to the questions posed this issue... this mean the first edition copy I own will eventually become a rare collectors item?”

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 116 CollectorC s

It is hard to say whether the first edition will become If you have a question about Ripper books and a collectors’ item. That rather depends on the print collectables that you would like answered then run (usually 2000 to 5000 are initially printed) but I why not send it to Stewart via our email address o doubt that it will ever be a valuable collector’s item. [email protected]. Stewart will be answering Also, I believe that the initial 50 copies lacked the again next issue, so get those questions in and get spine lettering and were numbered and signed by collecting!

the authors. Naturally these copies will be worth r more.

“My husband and I both own your book

Jack the Ripper Scotland Yard Investigates; don’t ne r mine is signed by yourself and Don Rumbelow, but only on tipped in labels, be shy whereas my husband’s copy is signed to him ripper- by one of the authors and also signed by both of you. Is his copy worth more than ologists mine? (Please say it isn’t!)” email Author signatures are always best written in the actual book as it means the author has handled the stewart book. Signed labels are less desirable, although they are better than no signature at all. today!

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 117 On The Case… Th e Ne w s Fr o m Ri p p e r Wo r l d On Serial On the murder… catwalk… The sad news that a serial murderer crossbow outside his flat. Griffiths is In what can only be described as a has been on the loose in Bradford, described in much of the news media bizarre situation, Nicole Ritchie, the England has emerged in the last few as a loner who was obsessed with the socialite daughter of Lionel Ritchie, weeks. Police have charged Stephen Jack the Ripper murders, and is said friend of Paris Hilton and co-star of The Griffiths, aged 40, a mature student to have informed one neighbour he Simple Life, launched a new clothing undertaking a PhD in criminology at was studying for a PhD in ‘murder and line which she stated was inspired by Bradford University, with the murders Jack the Ripper.’ Jack the Ripper. Ritchie had seen the of three women. Susan Rushworth BBC Ne w s film From Hell and the corsets, capes aged 43, Shelley Armitage aged 31 and Te l e g r a p h and clothes of the period, as well as the Suzanne Blamires aged 36, who were notion of Freemasons, helped with the working as prostitutes in the area, had ideas she needed for her latest range. gone missing in the last eleven months. On the This collection, apparently comes com- The police have recovered dismembered plete with top hats, well why not! It is body parts from the River Aire, near tube… called the Winter Kate Collection and Bradford. The alarm was raised after An interesting upload of bell ring- is coming soon to a boutique near you! a caretaker, reviewing CCTV footage ing inside Christ Church, Spitalfields, r t v c h a n n e l .tv from the block of flats where Griffiths was posted recently on YouTube and is z i m b i o .c o m lived, saw harrowing scenes caught on worth a look h e r e n o c h e l a t i n a .c o m the camera of the murder of Suzanne Blamires. The footage is said to have shown Griffiths murdering her with a

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 118 On The Case… Th e Ne w s Fr o m Ri p p e r Wo r l d On a On the warning… casebook... iPhone have launched an applica- rated as having the second highest Researcher Rob House, has recently tion that tells you how likely it is that number in the country (incidentally, posted some new photographs of Donald your neighbour will have an ASBO (an Newham in London was rated the first Swanson on the Casebook forums. Anti Social Behaviour Order, a British highest). The asborometer (yes you These fantastic pictures were released crime prevention measure). Proving heard right) uses information released to Rob by Swanson’s descendants. It’s that some things never change, the from the Home Office (the department a great find so well done to Rob (and survey showed that Tower Hamlets, that issues the orders) and as a result to Chris Phillips who aided him with the region including Whitechapel, you can keep a quarterly check on your some of the leg work in England as Rob Spitalfields and Bethnal Green, was locations ranking. FInd out more h e r e lives American). To see them go h e r e

A new paperback edition of John Or, on a different note, why not get On a Eddleston’s Jack the Ripper down to Spitalfields Market from the Encyclopaedia, is due to be published 11th to 26th June, for Spitalfields date… by John Blake on the 1st July 2010. Classical Music Festival.

Saturday 7th August - Whitechapel Similarly, a paperback edition The New Edition of Begg, Fido and Society 1888 meeting, “Down Among of Stewart P. Evans and Donald Skinner’s Jack the Ripper A to Z, the Dead Men”, speaker M.J Trow. Rumbelow’s Jack the Ripper: Scotland to be published by John Blake, is Yard Investigates, is also due to be pub- still slated for publication on the lished on the 1st July of this year. 6th September 2010.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 119 On The Case… Th e Ne w s Fr o m Ri p p e r Wo r l d On the Road… A section of Whitechapel Road is set and are accorded special protections) We will be keeping an eye out for how to be given a face lift to the tune of in order to restore the shop fronts and developments affect the look of Jack 1.4 million pounds, thanks to a grant get under-occupied buildings back into the Ripper’s London. from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This use. This will be carried out on a strict will be done using money being spent timetable so that the improvements Find out more h e r e on regenerating the area prior to the are made prior to the Olympic Games 2012 Olympic Games (to be held in themselves (they hope!) The regenera- London), as the section will form part tion is part of the High Street 2012 of the marathon route. Work will begin initiative, which covers an area of If you have a story you in December of this year on the ter- around three miles in Tower Hamlets, would like to submit race of 60 buildings (eight of which mainly on the marathon routes. As please email us. are Grade II listed and therefore are well as Whitechapel Road, areas under therefore considered to be of special the scheme include Whitechapel High [email protected] architectural or historical importance Street, Bow Road and Mile End Road.

Recent information released by the BBC has shown that there are over a thou- On a sand murders in the UK officially recorded as unsolved. However, Jack Ripper’s crimes do not rate amongst these since they have never officially been recorded lighter as such. Sounds like a fiddle to us!

note…

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 120 On The Case…Extra Th e Ne w s Fr o m Ri p p e r Wo r l d

Just a Thought by TN Bond

It’s the thought that counts. Well, at spared then’. Even today, to step into the service of our countries. least that’s what my mother always the East London Cemetery in Plaistow For the victims of the ‘Whitechapel told me. But when it comes to the is to be regularly astounded by sights Murders’, however, things were all too myriad of ways in which we remem- of gigantic customised monuments and often quite different. James Mason ber and honour our dead, things get a gaily coloured flowers, in all shapes memorably told us, in The London little more complicated than that. The and sizes from footballs to dartboards. Nobody Knows, that ‘the poor of the Victorians, famously, made mourning Further afield, Irish wakes are, to this parish clubbed together to buy...meat’ into a demonstration of social stand- day, legendary. The funeral cortege for Annie Chapman’s funeral, a classic ing, with families sometimes even of one familial Irishman, John ‘Jack’ and evocative line that nevertheless paying strangers to act as mourners in McCarthy, was requested by the late ignored the fact that Dark Annie’s order to increase the size of the funeral lodging house keeper to pass along family were able to pay the majority party. Where at all possible, they have Dorset Street one last time. On a more of her funeral costs — in that way, if always done a good funeral in the East sinister note, Spanish Republicans in very few others, she was relatively End — in 1908 E.V. Lucas, visiting publicly displayed the bodies of reli- lucky. Many of the protagonists of the Whitechapel, told, in A Wanderer in gious opponents, reminiscent of the ‘Ripper’ story, in particular — victims, London, of watching the funeral of a heads that adorned the medieval witnesses and suspects alike — ended fruit salesman, his coffin followed by London Bridge. More recently, con- their days in pauper’s graves, buried on market carts and victualler’s wagons tinuing hostilities in the Middle East the public charity that had in so many filled with mourners: ‘he was going have forced the British and American cases also sustained them through home well, as those that die in the peoples to think again about the ways periods of their lives. East End always do. No expense is in which we honour those who die in In February, a long-held ambition

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 121 was realised with the launch of my is unmarked, and even the cemetery victim. It is a trend that shows no sign website, at w w w .a ll -t h a t -y o u v e -d o n e . office are unable to offer any help in of abating, as John E. Keefe’s Carroty c o m. It was a triumph of ambition locating its exact site. She is hardly Nell: the Last Victim of Jack the Ripper and interest over technological incom- alone in Plaistow, from the pages of makes clear from its title onwards. petence. It also gave me a hitherto the ‘Whitechapel Murders’ file, she is Keefe’s research into Coles the person unknown opportunity to gauge opin- joined there by Elizabeth Stride, Alice deserves the highest praise, but the ion with regards to a couple of projects McKenzie and the ‘Pinchin Street way in which it is packaged makes it occupying my time; one of those, my Torso’, and from elsewhere in history clear that the person still comes second documentary Murder and Suspicion: by a monument to the victims of both in the world of commercial publishing the Whitechapel Murders, is now the 1917 Silvertown explosion, and to Coles the historical enigma. As for nearing completion, and the feed- also the sinking of the Princess Alice. the person herself, Coles, according to back received through the website, We will never know whether Stride current research, has not left behind and also Casebook and JTRforums would have appreciated the irony of any immediate family, and so the moral has been invaluable. The other, how- the latter. Frances is, however, com- obligation — if not in the strictest sense ever, a memorial to Frances Coles, has pletely unremembered. Now, visiting the responsibility — of ensuring she become — like trying to reach a con- the gravesites of murder victims is of is remembered may be said to fall on sensus on the way in which we should course itself something of a contentious those in the modern day who can claim expect to honour our dead, a little more and emotional issue, but for my money, know her best. It is a sad truth, but complex. if you are going to read about the that probably means ‘us’. This, there- Coles, as we all know, was mur- lives of victims, to bandy their names fore, would be the second issue with dered in the early hours of the morning around in conversation and even look which my appeal has to contend with before Valentine’s Day 1891. As on their mortuary photographs, then, if — along with difficulties of location — many will also know, she was subse- you have the opportunity, the least you one of intention. It is an esoteric and quently buried on the 25th February can do is visit their grave and pay your much more difficult one. – although the location of her burial is respects. This, then, was the think- I have no desire to criticise or iso- perhaps less well-known. When writer ing behind the decision to launch my late anyone — and we have already and researcher Andrew Spallek vis- website with a proposal for a fund to seen that there are probably as many ited the East London Cemetery, he raise money for a memorial to Frances ways of confronting death as there are was told that they had no record of her Coles. people wishing to do so — but I think it burial there. Subsequent visits by me Interest in Coles has, perhaps is fair to say that many of us can think and others have confirmed that she inevitably, focused on arguments for of examples of ‘memorial’ practices was, after all — however, her grave or against her inclusion as a ‘Ripper’ centred around one victim or another’s

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 122 gravesite that the majority would find at best questionable and at times dis- tasteful. One victim, of course, seems to attract more of this sort of attention than others. For this reason I have decided that a plain plaque — name and dates, together if necessary with ‘nearby this spot lie the mortal remains of...’ — would offer the most respectful and least troublesome form of tribute. I am not sure how I would feel were I to visit the plaque and find that it had become the centrepiece for mawk- ish sentimentality, but it is a risk I have decided that I must be prepared to take. We have just over nine months until the 120th anniversary of Coles’ death – and with the average price a p p r o x . s i t e o f f r a n c e s c o l e s ’ g r a v e , e a s t l o n d o n c e m e t e r y , p l a i s t o w of a simple memorial plaque look- ing somewhere between £150-£200 Examiner would be happy to pass on Biography (US$215-US$290), I am sure that if any messages. For a discussion of the TN Bond is a writer and researcher, a good—sized group of generous and various issues regarding locating Coles’ the man behind w w w .a ll -t h a t -y o u v e - similarly minded individuals banded plot, see the ‘burial’ thread on the d o n e .c o m and also the forthcoming together that we could manage to raise Frances Coles board at Casebook, or documentary Murder and Suspicion: the appropriate funds without any one visit my website. Similarly, if anyone the Whitechapel Murders and accom- individual having to break the prover- has any administrative experience panying book Murder and Suspicion: bial bank. in small scale charity appeals, please the Whitechapel Murders (and more). If anyone has any thoughts on contact me — as I have no egocen- this project then please contact me at tric desire to embark into yet another [email protected]; wholly new world entirely alone and alternatively I am sure that Casebook unprepared!

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 123 Ultimate Ripperolgists’ Tour: From London Liverpool Street Station to Romford, Essex A compendium of travels through locations pertinent to the Ripper case.

Li v e r p o o l St r e e t St a t i o n

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 124 elcome to the second instal- to the case. It was to Bishopsgate Police journey ahead of us, so after a quick ment of our Ultimate Tour, Station that Catherine Eddowes was scout around the immediate area we Wwhich is heading to the taken by PCs Robinson and Simmons better head back inside the station. Greater London area for a look round on the night of her murder after being Liverpool Street Station was built some of the areas connected to the case. found drunk and disorderly (possibly on the site of the original Bethlem This issue’s tour differs slightly from impersonating a fire engine, but then Royal Hospital (aka Bedlam, some- the last as it follows a specific over- again, probably not) outside 29 Aldgate times referred to as Bethlehem) and ground train route between London High Street. At 8.45pm Sergeant opened in February 1874, becoming Liverpool Street Station and the town Byfield put Eddowes in the cells; by fully operational in November of the of Romford in Essex, twelve miles down 1 am she was considered to be sober following year. The Station was the the line. There might even be time for enough to go and was released by PC first place to be hit by German bomber you to sit back in the train and enjoy Hutt (to whom she delivered the line aircraft during World War One. Whilst what there is of the Essex countryside ‘good night, old cock’). Sadly, within the during the Second World War a bomb, and scenery! hour she was dead. The Bishopsgate landing in Bishopsgate, completely Police Station that Catherine would shattered its glass roof. The station Around London have seen was built in 1865; however, building was modernised during the Liverpool Street this was damaged considerably during late 1980s and early 1990s. Today We start our journey at the historic the Second World War and the one Liverpool Street Station serves mainly London Liverpool Street Station, that can be seen today was constructed Essex and East Anglia and is the third located in the East End of London, a on the same site in 1939. busiest train station in London (after mere stone’s throw away from the A second connection is that Waterloo and Victoria). murder sites. With an entrance that Joseph Barnett said he took lodg- The complex included a tube sta- leads onto Bishopsgate on the edge of ings in Buller’s Lodging House, 24 tion, making it possible to link to the Ripperland, what better excuse could -25 New Street, off Bishopsgate, after start off point from nearly anywhere there be for a quick scout around he split from Mary Jane Kelly in the in London (and by association, indeed that street prior to getting aboard the days before her murder. The residence the world). Why not grab a snack from train? Why not head to the bottom of is located next door to the present day one of the variety of eateries there; Brushfield Street for a quick look and a police station. Meanwhile, in 1871 and from fast food, to baguettes, to Cornish photo opportunity as there is an excel- 1881, Harry Harris, witness at the pasties, there is a good selection of out- lent view of Christchurch, Spitalfields Catherine Eddowes inquest, lived on lets on the forecourt (though expect to from this vantage point? Catherine Wheel Alley, also located off pay train station prices). Before head- Bishopsgate itself has several links Bishopsgate. However, we have a long ing for the platform and catching the

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Liverpool Street to Romford train remember to buy a travel card from the ticket office. The station oper- ates ticket barriers and you cannot board the train without your ticket. Also remember to keep it safe as you will similarly require it to exit at most stations along this route. We recom- mend that you buy a travel card rather than individual train tickets as this should get you on the buses and tube trains that you will also need to take to follow the whole of this route. There are good signs and train information in this station and the train that you will need to take is headed towards Shenfield and the first point that you will exit the train is at...

Stratford Stratford, not to be confused with the more glamorous Stratford-Upon-Avon, is located in the London Borough of Newham. The town’s name literally translates as ‘street near a river cross- ing’. Until the arrival of the railways in 1839, the area was open countryside. However, times have changed for this area and it is now considered to be an area of high deprivation, and perhaps St r a t f o r d Ol d To w n Ha ll not a place to venture into on one’s own at night. The good news for its residents is that it is set to be spruced

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 126 up as it will be part of the London 2012 Olympics. Indeed, the Olympic Stadium, Aqua Centre and Velodrome, will all be based in the Olympic Park, located here (and being built as we speak). Annie Chapman is said to have travelled to Stratford to sell flow- ers, crochet work and baskets. On the 7th September 1888, her friend Amelia Palmer (sometimes referred to as Farmer) stated that she had asked Annie if she would be going to Stratford but she had replied she would not be because she was feeling unwell. Elizabeth Stride is also said to have gone to Stratford, as it was one of St Pa t r i c k ’s Ce m e t e r y the areas she plied her trade at times. After a look around Stratford, head back to the station, but this time get on the London Underground and follow the Central Line to Leyton. You can also get to Leyton from buses that depart from outside Stratford Train Gr a v e o f Jo h n McCa r t h y Station. been used as a place name since the at Leyton. On arrival you might want Around Leyton and eleventh century and literally trans- to take a moment to ponder the fact Leytonstone lates as ‘town on the River Lea’. We that Harry Beck, the inventor of the On departing the tube train you will are headed for St Patrick’s Roman London Underground map, hailed find yourself in the new surround- Catholic Cemetery, although its postal from here. Or you might have come ings of Leyton in the London Borough address is Leytonstone, the nearest by bus! On departing the station you of Waltham Forest. Leyton has tube station is indeed this one here will find yourself on The High Road, on

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Liverpool Street to Romford the side of this road opposite the sta- who was re-interned from Pentonville dressers’ assistant for William Wenzel. tion you will find Goodall Road; follow Prison after being given a posthumous At this time he lived on Forest Road, that along until you reach Langthorne pardon. Evans, of 10 Rillington Place lodging at premises run by John Ward. Road, which is the road on which the was originally hanged in 1950 for the During his time here he met his first cemetery is located, continuing along murder of his daughter, Geraldine. At wife Mary Isabella Spink, who would the said road you will soon see the the trial a key prosecution witness was become a future murder victim of his. entrance. one John Christie, he was later found Once you have finished taking It was in St Patrick’s, on the 19th to be a serial murderer and himself in the surroundings, get back on the of November 1888, that Mary Jane hanged in 1953. An enquiry ensued London Underground and head back Kelly was buried in a public grave. Her and the result of this was the pardon towards Stratford. At Stratford Train grave was number 66, row 66, plot ten. issued in 1965. These events were said Station, get back onto the train to There is a reception at the cemetery to have been in some way responsible Shenfield and get going towards Manor and during office hours it is often the for ending the death penalty’s use in Park (but be aware as not all the trains case that there are staff around who the UK. stop at every station, so make sure the may be able to assist you. There was On exiting the cemetery after one you get on will set down passen- originally no marker on the site, but having paid your respects, make your gers at the next port of call). this changed in the mid 1980s when a way back to the London Underground Ripperologist, the late John Morrison, Station and get on the tube to nearby A Sad Tour of Manor Park erected a headstone (admittedly mark- Leytonstone. This town, is believed On exiting the train station at Manor ing the wrong location) but he subse- to date back to at least 1545, whilst Park you are not far from the two quently had it removed. In the 1990s there is a historic Roman road which cemeteries located here. The first, the the superintendent instead put up a runs between here and Stratford aptly named Manor Park Cemetery, simple memorial on the burial site. harking back to even earlier times. is located on Sebert Road. Leaving the Mary’s grave is often covered with Leytonstone’s best known son is Alfred station, you will find yourself (unsur- flowers and trinkets left by people who Hitchcock, the film director, who was prisingly perhaps) on Station Road. have been to pay their respects. John born and raised in the area. On exit- Heading left, turn into Whitta Road McCarthy, Mary Kelly’s former land- ing the Tube Station at Leytonstone and follow that road along until you lord at Dorset Street, also was laid to you will find yourself on Church Lane, soon arrive at the cemetery’s entrance. rest in this cemetery. His monument, which leads us to our next Jack the Manor Park has been managed by the in the form of an angel, is hard to miss Ripper connection. It was at 7 Church same family since it opened in 1875. and is located near to the Chapel. Lane in 1895-96 that Severin Klosowski It is here that Annie Chapman was Also buried here is Timothy Evans, aka George Chapman worked as a hair buried, in grave number 78, on 14th

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 128 Gr a v e m a r k e r s Ma n o r Pa r k Ce m e t e r y

September 1888. Her grave, however, cemetery has been open since 1856 farmland owned by Lord Wellesley, in no longer exists as it has been buried and is one of the largest cemeteries 1853, which was sold to the Corporation over. in Europe. In 1849 William Haywood, for £30,721. The cemetery was founded The second cemetery located in Chief Engineer of the City of London in 1854 and laid out in 1855 by William this area is the confusingly named City Commissioners of Sewers, made a Haywood; the first interment was in of London Cemetery. It is a short walk report on the condition of London’s 1856 and the cemetery was not conse- from the Manor Park Cemetery and can churchyards. The Commissioners were crated until November 1857, for legal be got to by walking along Forest Drive responsible for public hygiene and san- reasons. It is designated as Grade II (at the end of Whitta Road). When you itation and directed that a cemetery as listed by English Heritage. Two of reach the junction with Aldersbrook be built for the city as a result of their Jack the Ripper’s victims, Mary Ann Road you will see the entrance. This enquiries. This led to the purchase of Nichols and Catherine Eddowes, are

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Liverpool Street to Romford buried close to each other in the cem- in 1839, caused increased population Fleming otherwise James Evans. We etery. Mary Ann was buried here in a growth. It was on the High Road here add a cautionary note here to state common grave on the 6th September in 1860 that the only complete skull that the identification of King’s luna- 1888 and Catherine was buried on the of a mammoth was unearthed in the tic Fleming with Mary Kelly’s former 8th October 1888. Walking to the cre- UK (the spot where it was found is lover has never been fully established, matorium and then following the path now under the current Boots store). but there does seem to be some con- called Garden Way will lead you to the You might be interested to note that sensus that it is probably the same two women’s graves, which lie either Stephen Knight, the author of Jack the man. Mary’s Fleming was said to be side of the pathway in the memorial Ripper: The Final Solution, worked as a plasterer or mason, rather than garden. The graves are marked by a reporter on various Ilford papers and dock labourer but he was indeed from plaques on the ground, put in by the was at one point the chief reporter on Bethnal Green. cemetery, rather than by more tradi- the Ilford Recorder. In 1997 the hospital was closed tional headstones. In the early 1990s Mark King down, due to decline in patient num- After a period of quiet contempla- proposed the theory that a Joseph bers thanks to care-in- the-community tion and having paid your respects to Fleming, who was also known as James initiatives. However, the building, these three women it is time to head Evans (who died in Claybury Mental after pressure from English Heritage back to the Manor Park Train Station Hospital in 1920) was the same Joseph and the Local Planning Authority, was and go down the line a further stop. Fleming who knew Mary Kelly. He fur- preserved and converted into luxury ther stated that he was also Jack the flats and is now known as Repton Park. Ilford to Woodford Ripper. Subsequent research by Chris Though often described as being in the Bridge and Back with Scott that he put on the Casebook Ilford area, Claybury Mental Hospital Bilbo Baggins message boards in 2009 revealed that is in fact two miles away from Ilford in The next port of call for our journey is the Joseph Fleming at the Claybury Woodford Bridge. However, it is pos- Ilford, this is often given as the area Mental Hospital was admitted in 1895 sible to get there from Ilford via buses where the two cemeteries you just vis- under the name James Evans. He was and tube trains, though it is a bit of a ited at Manor Park are located, but, at that time 40 years old and a pauper devious route, and may require you to evidentially, it is for other reasons that under the jurisdiction of Bethnal look into this on Travel Line, or other we are heading here today. The suburb Green and his occupation was given travel websites prior to your travelling itself, was historically a small country- as dock labourer. His illness was said in case of alterations to services and side area, but its position on the River to be mania precipitated by the use of variations in buses. If you decide to Roding meant it developed as a coach- alcohol. He died in 1920 and his death head to Woodford Bridge, the hospital ing town and the arrival of the railway, certificate records that he was Joseph site is off Manor Road. Be sure to head

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 130 back to Ilford Train Station in order to pick up the route. Once back safely at the station we will make our way to the next stop along the route that is of inter- est to us the town of Romford. Note that there are a few stops between the two stations. When passing through the Goodmayes area you may like to consider the fact that Ian Holm CBE, who played William Gull in the movie From Hell, was born in Goodmayes in 1931. Strangely, he is alleged to have been born at the mental health asylum where his father worked and lived. This institution, on Barley Lane, is just a short walk away from the train station there.

Romford At the far end of our journey we arrive Ro m f o r d Ma r k e t Pl a c e into Romford, in the London Borough of Havering. The town’s first recorded up within a day’s sheep drive (six and originally two separate stations. The appearance in history was in 1177 but two-thirds miles) of Romford. Also of oldest part is the current platforms it was developed in the middle ages, note is a memorial to Anthony Cooke, two to five, which were opened by the due to its location on a main road to tutor to King Edward VI in Romford’s Eastern Counties Railway in 1839. London. The market, established in parish church. In more recent times The modern platform one was once the 1247, was one of historical importance the opening of the railway station, in London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and originated as a sheep market. 1839, helped the town develop further and was opened in 1893. The two sta- Under the Royal Charter of the Liberty and shift from agriculture towards tions are now as one and joined by a of Havering, granted by King Henry industry. Speaking of the railway, the footbridge. III, no other market is permitted to set station at which you have arrived was There are several Ripper

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Liverpool Street to Romford connections to the town, most nota- happy to note that there are several More information to bly and memorably that it is the place cheap high street hotel chains in the help plan your trip where George Hutchinson said he area. Have a break, you’ve earned it! arrived from on the day of the Mary To check train and travel info go to: Kelly’s murder. He said he walked all Local terms – to help w w w .t r a v e l i n e .o r g .uk the way arriving into Whitechapel at you understand what the w w w .n a t i o n a l r a i l .c o .uk around 2 o’clock (be thankful you came blithering heck they are by train, don’t forget its twelve miles!). going on about there! General Information A second link is that Edward Watkins, h t t p ://w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /dissertations / the City Police PC who discovered For this issue we couldn’t resist some r n _g r a v e s .h t m l Catherine Eddowes body, retired to the Cockney rhyming slang! h t t p ://w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /v i c t i m s /g r a v e s . Romford area and died here in 1913, Public House = Jack Tar h t m l aged 69. In 1901 he lived at Becontree Beer = Pig’s ear Heath Road, Rush Green, Romford, Can you Adam and Eve it? London Liverpool Street and whilst in 1911 he was residing at 1 = can you believe it? Bishopsgate Low Shoe Lane, Collier Row, Romford. Let’s catch the Uncle Gus Robert Clack and Philip Hutchinson Furthermore, William Crossingham, = lets catch a bus (2007) The London of Jack the Ripper who owned the lodging house at Dorset Kipper = Jack the Ripper Then and Now, Breedon Books, Street, opposite Miller’s Court, lived Train = John Wayne London. at Junction Road, Romford at the time for even more Cockney rhyming slang w w w .n e t w o r k r a i l .c o .uk of his death. He died in 1907 of kidney go to :- http://www.cockneyrhymings- e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i / disease, his second wife Margaret died lang.co.uk/ Li v e r p o o l _St r e e t _s t a t i o n shortly afterwards and they are buried w w w .l o n d o n t o w n .c o m /Lo n d o n St r e e t s / together in Romford Cemetery, Crow l i v e r p o o l _s t r e e t Lane, in plot 5090, a Roman Catholic w w w .t o u r u k .c o .u k /l o n d o n _s t a t i o n s / grave. l i v e r p o o l s t r e e t _s t a t i o n Now that your journey is at its end you have earned the right to a relaxing Stratford drink in one of Romford’s public houses h t t p ://e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i / or cafes, or a bite to eat in one of its res- St r a t f o r d ,_Lo n d o n taurants. You might also want to have a rest and a good sleep, so you will be

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 132 Leyton and Leytonstone Romford Travel Writers Needed! e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i /Le y t o n e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i /Ro m f o r d Is there a Jack the Ripper connection e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i /Le y t o n s t o n e e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i / to your local town or district? Why not e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i /Ti m o t h y _Ev a n s Ro m f o r d _r a i l w a y _s t a t i o n tell us about it? We would be delighted w i k i .c a s e b o o k .o r g /i n d e x .p h p / to include a guide to your area in a Manor Park Ge o r g e _Hu t c h i n s o n future issue as we are on the look- w w w .m p a r k .c o .uk w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /p r e s s _r e p o r t s /p a ll _ out for would-be travel writers to tell w w w .m p a r k .c o .u k /d e f a u l t .a s p x ?ID=7 m a ll _g a z e t t e /18881114.h t m l ? us about the places they know with a w w w .m p a r k .c o .u k /d e f a u l t .a s p x ?ID=5 w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /w i t n e s s e s /w/Ed w a r d _ Ripper connection. Simply email the w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /v i c t i m s /c h a p m a n .h t m l Wa t k i n s .h t m l features editor at examiner@casebook. w w w .c i t y o f l o n d o n .g o v .u k /Co r p o r a t i o n / w i k i .c a s e b o o k .o r g /i n d e x .p h p / org with a few brief details about the LGNL_Se r v i c e s /Co m m u n i t y _a n d _l i v i n g / Cr o s s i n g h a m %27s_Lo d g i n g _Ho u s e place you have in mind and we’ll take De a t h s _f u n e r a l s _a n d _c r e m a t i o n s /c o n - w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /f o r u m / it from there! We look forward to fea- t a c t s .h t m m e s s a g e s /4921/9195.h t m l turing your area soon. e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i /Ci t y _o f _Lo n d o n _ Ce m e t e r y _a n d _Cr e m a t o r i u m

Ilford and Woodford Bridge e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i /Il f o r d f o r u m .c a s e b o o k .o r g /s h o w t h r e a d . p h p ?t=2120 w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /dissertations /r n - d r h e w i t t .h t m l e n .w i k i p e d i a .o r g /w i k i /Cl a y b u r y _As yl u m w w w .a n s w e r s .c o m /t o p i c /i a n -h o l m

Ultimate Ripperologisits’ Tour Liverpool Street to Romford CSI: Whitechapel

September 1888 Annie Chapman

Location: Hanbury Street, Spitalfields.

Date: 8th September, 1888

Time: 5:45 AM

The Victim: Identified as Annie Chapman by Fountain Smith, her brother. She was also identified by Timothy Donovan, Deputy of Crossingham’s Lodging House, 35 Dorset Street. She was the widow of John Chapman, a coachman, of Windsor.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 134 Victim Discovered By: and one leading into the yard were John Davis, resident of 29 Hanbury never locked and were at times left open Street was on his way out to work all night. Even when the doors were when he discovered the body of Annie shut anyone was able to open them and Chapman. Davis went to the front enter the backyard. When Davis went steps of the house and called out, “men into the back yard that day, the back come here”. By doing this he summoned door was shut but he was unable to say James Kent and James Green, who if it was latched. The back door opened worked for Mr Bailey of 23A Hanbury outwards into the yard on the left-hand St. The men were waiting outside those side. The front door was wide open. premises to begin work. Between the yard of 29 and the next house was a fence said at various points First Police on Scene: to be of about 5 to 6 feet in height, no Inspector Joseph Chandler, H Division, palings of the said fence were broken. was the first police officer to enter the The yard floor was compose of round yard. At two minutes past six that morn- and flat stones. ing he saw several men running up Hanbury Street. He beckoned them over The Discovery of the and they told him of the murder and Body: hearing of it went to the crime scene. Annie was found lying on her back with her head two feet from the back wall of Medical Assistance: the house and no more than six to nine Doctor George Bagster Phillips, divi- inches from the steps. She had her feet sional surgeon to the station, was towards the wood shed at the bottom called and he saw the body of Annie of yard. The whole of her body was on Chapman at 6:20 am. He called for an the ground and parallel with the fence. ambulance to convey the body to the Annie’s clothes were disarranged and Whitechapel Mortuary. the apron she was wearing appeared to have been thrown over her clothes. Her The Crime Scene: left arm was resting on left breast. Her The victim was discovered in the back- legs were drawn up with her feet on the yard of a terraced house. The front door ground. Removed from but attached

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 135 to her body and placed above the right throat wound. She had a handkerchief the cervix uteri and that therefore the shoulder were a flap of the wall of her of some kind round her throat. Robert murder was the work of an expert or belly and the whole of her small intes- Mann, the mortuary attendant, subse- of someone who had such knowledge tines and attachments. The rest of the quently found it amongst the clothing of anatomical or pathological exami- intestines were inside her body. Two lying in the corner of the mortuary nations as to be enabled to secure the flaps of skin from the lower part of her room and it was covered in blood. Her pelvic organs with one sweep of the body were found lying in a large quan- jacket had bloodstains round the neck knife. This anatomical knowledge was tity of blood above her left shoulder. inside and out and there were two shown, according to Doctor Phillips, by or three blood spots on its left arm. the mode in which the knife had been The Evidence: Annie’s black skirt had a little blood used as this seemed to indicate great Annie’s throat was severed deeply and on the back. There was no damage to anatomical knowledge. He noted that that incision was jagged. The cut was the lower portion of her clothing, her he could not have performed all the from left to right and back right round boots were on her feet and her stock- injuries that were inflicted on Annie the throat. It was determined that she ings were bloodstained. However, none Chapman, even without a struggle, in had been partially strangled due to the of her clothing was torn. under a quarter of an hour. If he had thickening of the tongue. Her tongue Doctor Phillips stated that the done it in a deliberate way such as protruded between the front teeth abdominal mutilations were inflicted would fall to the duties of a surgeon (but not beyond her lips) and her face after death. The post mortem exami- it probably would have taken him the was swollen, this was a sign of suf- nation revealed that her abdomen best part of an hour. focation. The hands were livid, as in had been entirely laid open with the There was an abrasion on the first cases of asphyxia, and not blanched intestines severed from the mesen- phalanx of her ring finger and the dis- as in cases of blood loss. Annie was teric attachments then lifted out of the tinct markings of ring or rings, probably smeared with blood over her face and body and placed on the right shoulder the latter, on the proximal phalanx of hands as though she had been strug- of Annie’s body. He stated that miss- the same finger. The bruises on the face gling. Her hands were raised and ing from the victim’s body were part of were evidently recent, especially about palms bent towards the upper portion the belly wall, including the navel and the chin and side of the jaw, which indi- of her body as though she that fought womb, the upper part of the vagina cated she may have been pulled down for her throat. There were marks of and the greater part of the bladder. by the chin. However, the bruises on blood on her legs. Nurse Simonds, who It was Doctor Phillips’ conclusion the front of the chest and temple were undressed Annie’s body at mortuary, that the incisions were cleanly cut, of longer standing and probably of days stated that there was blood on her avoiding the rectum, and dividing the in age. They may have been sustained chest which had run down from her vagina low enough to avoid injury to in Annie’s fight with Eliza Cooper.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 136 The palings near the body On her person: were stained with blood. There After the body was removed to the were no drops of blood in the mortuary a piece of coarse muslin and passageway or outside and the a small pocket comb were found. There bloodstains that were found was also a pocket found that was worn were only found in the neigh- under the skirt; it was torn down the bourhood of the body. There front and did not contain anything. were a few spots of blood on the back wall at the head of her The Murder Weapon: body and about 18 inches from The knife used was not an ordi- the ground there were about nary knife but was one such as an six patches of blood of varying amputating knife or a well ground size from a six penny piece to slaughterman’s knife. It had a narrow a point. Also, on the wooden or thin sharp blade of six to eight paling to the left of the body inches in length. The injuries could not near the head were discov- have been inflicted by a bayonet or by ered patches and smears of a sword. The wounds to the throat and blood. those to the abdomen were inflicted Doctor Phillips con- using the same knife. cluded that the cause of the victim’s death was by the The search for clues: injuries described. He pro- When Inspector Chandler arrived he nounced life extinct and secured the yard. A description of the stated that she had been victim was circulated, by wire, to all sta- dead for two hours. Doctor tions. An immediate search was made Philips stated the murder at common lodging houses to ascertain occurred in the yard and if anyone had entered that morning gave his opinion that the with blood on his hands, face or clothes murderer was possessed or under any suspicious circumstances. of anatomical knowl- The inhabitants of number 29 Hanbury edge from the manner of Street were seen by the police and their 24-26 Ha n b u r y St r e e t removal of the viscera. rooms searched. Statements were also

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 137 taken from those in the neighbouring Depot were examined and no one with the latch and went into the yard. He houses. An investigation to find the a signature that matched the initials on recalled that the back door was closed rings removed from Annie Chapman’s the envelope could be found. Enquires and the back door shut itself behind fingers at pawnbrokers, jewellers and were then made at the local Post Office him. He was there no longer than dealers was instigated. and the proprietor believed the letter three minutes in total. It was not light The police found a leather apron was probably posted there. They stated but was getting so and was sufficiently against the fence in the yard; it was that they had a large quantity of enve- light to see all over the yard, so that, if found under the tap supplying water lopes and paper in stock which they there had been a body by the steps, he to the house. Amelia Richardson, resi- retailed to any person. Then, William could not have failed to notice it. dent of 29 Hanbury Street, stated that Stevens of 35 Dorset Street common Amelia Richardson, of 29 Hanbury it was found in the same place as she lodging house, stated that on the 7th Street, stated she was not afraid of the had left it and it had been lying on the September Annie Chapman went to doors being left open. She had never stones from Thursday to Saturday. The the lodging house and said she had heard of any robberies; people fre- police also took away an empty nail been to hospital and that she intended quently went into the back yard, and box. There was also a pan full of water to go to the Infirmary the next day. He perhaps some who had no business to by the tap, but this was found in the saw that she had a box with two pills do so. She nonetheless never had any same place as it had been previously in it, a bottle of medicine and a bottle suspicion that the yard was used for on the morning of the murder. of lotion. On handling the box of pills immoral purposes. A partial envelope was found near it fell apart so she took the pills and Albert Cadosch, of 27 Hanbury the victim, containing two pills. This placed them in a piece of paper she Street stated that on two separate was the subject of extensive enquires. had picked up from the kitchen floor; occasions on the morning of the 8th At the Depot of the First Battalion he believed this paper had the Sussex September he went into the rear of 27 Sussex Regiment North Cambridge, Regiment on it. Hanbury Street. The property was sep- Farnborough, Captain Young stated arated only by a wooden fence of about it had on it the official stamp of the Witnesses: five feet from that of number 29. He Regiment and that the majority of men John Richardson, son of Amelia heard some words pass between some used the paper, which they purchased Richardson of 29 Hanbury Street, persons, apparently at 29, but the only in the canteen. No one could be found stated that at 4:45 AM he went out word he heard clearly was “no”. On a at the barracks who corresponded with and stood on the steps leading to the second occasion at about 5:28 am he anyone in Spitalfields, or who lived at backyard and cut a piece of leather off heard something falling against the an address commencing with a 2 (as his boot. When he went to the house fence. on the envelope). The pay books of the the front door was closed, he lifted Elizabeth Long stated that at 5:30

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 138 am she saw a man and woman talking near to 29 Hanbury Street. She heard the man say “will you” and the woman “yes”. The man she saw was over forty years of age, but she did not see his face. She stated that he was taller than the woman, of foreign appearance and wearing a dark coat. She would not recognise him again. However, she was able to identify the woman as Annie Chapman.

Suspects: Joseph, otherwise Jacob, Isenschmid aged 38 years, a butcher of 59 Elthorne Road, Holloway, came under suspi- cion. He was described as a lunatic. Detective Inspector John Styles of Y Division, Holloway, reported these sus- picions on the 11th September 1888. Doctor Cowan of Lansdeer Road and Doctor Crabbe of Holloway Road had reported to him on the 11th September that they thought Isenschmid might be the Ripper as he had left his lodgings on several occasions and at various Ha n b u r y St r e e t C1918 times. He was said to be in the habit of carrying large butchers knives around on suspicion and was subsequently any traces of blood on them. The case with him. Police, deeming his move- removed to the Infirmary, Fairfield against him was subsequently dropped ments to be suspicious, observed the Road, Bow, and certified as a danger- on account of him being in the Infirmary house where he was staying. The sus- ous lunatic. Sergeant Thick examined when subsequent murders occurred. pect was detained at Holloway Street the man’s clothing and did not find

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 139 Criticisms: The limitations of the to set in was determined to be approxi- The facilities for the post mortem were day: mately two to three hours. At the time criticised. Wagner (2006) noted that The rigorous processes of forensic of the murders the Victorians also had the facilities for post mortems at that analysis we have become accustomed an understanding of hypostasis. time were primitive. The Coroner of to today were not established in 1888. Professor Alexandre Lacassagne the day, Wynne Baxter, stated it was The methods for establishing time of (1843-1924), conducted a detailed not a mortuary but a shed and bodies death have been unreliable. The three examination of the dead which led should not be taken there. It has also standard measures, which have been to a new understanding of the physi- been pointed out by historians that used are hypostasis (post mortem livid- cal changes that occur after death. He Annie Chapman’s body was undressed ity), body temperature and rigor mortis noted the onset of rigour mortis, the before the post mortem and washed and these are subject to variants of way in which the muscles stiffen, with by the nurses. There was some confu- atmospheric temperature, location, this first becoming evident in the jaw sion about who ordered this to happen physique and condition of health of the then spreading downwards and then at the time of the inquest. However, subject. As Lane (1993, pp 616) noted retreating in the order in which it it can clearly be criticised for poten- the scientific methods of establishing appears. He also described livor mortis, tially removing vital clues before time of death “can often only be treated the discolouration caused by death Doctor Phillips made his examination. as rough indicators of time of death.” which occurs due to the loss of circula- Indeed, we have already noted that The Victorians realised that the tion causing the blood to settle in the the nurse testified at the inquest that body was dependent on the circula- lower portion of the body. He observed she had washed away blood and that tion of blood, meaning that when this algor mortis, which is the cooling of Robert Mann, mortuary assistant at stopped the body cooled. The Victorians the body and the rate that the body the Whitechapel mortuary, noted that knew that the rate of cooling varies reaches the temperature of its sur- the clothes had been placed in a pile dependant on certain factors such as roundings. Lacassagne saw all these in the corner of the mortuary whilst cause of death, treatment of the body as useful tools for working out the time holding information of potential use and the atmosphere, they worked on of death but he also noted that there to the doctor. However, Sugden (2002) the basis that the period of cooling were many possible exceptions to this noted that however deficient police could vary. They realised that a ther- including the temperature of the sur- and forensic procedures might appear mometer was the correct way to mea- roundings, the circumstance of death by modern standards, they do not sure the body temperature and that you and the age of the victim, which could seem to have departed from conven- should not rely on touch and observa- all have an effect on the appearance of tions of the day. tion alone. They also knew about rigor the three signs. mortis and the period it takes for this Doctor Phillips stated that the time

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 140 of death was two to three hours prior either the eye witnesses or Phillips McLaughlin, Robert J. (2005) to his examining the body of Annie were mistaken, as we have seen even The First Jack the Ripper Victim Chapman and as he was on scene at today the science of working out the Photographs, Zwerghaus Books, approximately 6:20 am, this puts the time of death is still a tricky and dif- Canada. time of death at about 4:20 at the latest. ficult affair. So it is hard to determine Doctor Phillips noted but it was right to which of these scenarios is likely to be Ramland,K (2006) ‘The ability to mention that it was a fairly cool morn- correct based solely on the forensic evi- doubt: forensic pioneer Alexandre ing, and that the body would be more dence that is available. Lacassagne’ The Forensic Examiner, apt to cool rapidly from its having lost Fall 2006, accessed He r e 22/05/10. a great quantity of blood (which as we Conclusion: have seen was known to affect the esti- The murder is likely to be one in a Sugden, P. (2002) The Complete mate for the time of death, as the cool- series, connected to that of Mary Ann History of Jack the Ripper, Revised ness of the body was one of the factors Nichols (see our last file). Despite paperback edition, Constable and observed). He also noted that the stiff- numerous suspects being investigated Robinson, London. ness of the limbs was well marked and the case has not yet been conclusively more noticeable on the left side, espe- solved. File still open. Wagner, E.J (2006) The Science of cially in the fingers, which were partly Sherlock Holmes, John Wiley and closed (this related to the rigor mortis Sources: Sons, New Jersey. process). As has been noted on several Cooper, C. (2008) Eyewitness: Forensic occasions, this put the time of death Science, DK, London. w w w .c a s e b o o k .o r g /v i c t i m s /c h a p m a n before the time that John Richardson had entered the yard, and into con- Evans, S. and Skinner, K. (2001) flict with his testimony that had there The Ultimate Jack the Ripper been a body in the yard he could not Sourcebook, Constable and Robinson, failed to have noticed it. It also con- London. flicts with Elizabeth Long’s testimony as she stated that she had seen Annie Guy, W., Ferrier, D. and Smith, W. Chapman at 5:30, after Phillips had (2009) Victorian CSI, History Press, said she was dead and also conflicts Stroud. with the idea that Cadosch heard the killer or Chapman fall against the fence Lane, B (1993) The Encyclopaedia of at around the same time. This means Forensic Medicine, Headline, London.

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 141 from the casebook archives: Ripperologists

his issue’s look at the Casebook’s start studying.” It can be found he r e. ‘I plead not guilty of the crimes of extensive archives focuses on If you’re still wondering which Jack which I am accused your honour on the TRipperologists themselves and the Ripper suspect is guilty why not go grounds that I am a fictional creation’ the topic of Ripperology in general. to he r e and read Andrew L. Morrison’s does appear a rather good defence!” As What better place to start than dissertation ‘Whodunnit?: Choosing A you can tell it is a rather light-hearted John Smithkey III’s excellent disserta- Ripper Suspect’? It opens “Since 1888 piece, while looking at a serious issue. tion ‘So You Want to Be a Ripperologist’? those that have been named as possibly A recent thread on the Casebook’s Though it is part of the ‘Introduction’ being Jack the Ripper must number in message boards started by poster The section to the Casebook don’t let this their hundreds and that’s just the ones Good Michael and called ‘If...you just put you off, it contains some interest- we know about! How do you decide on might be a Ripperologist’ provided some ing points about the field and how to a suspect? The answer to that depends amusement and interesting musings go about undertaking research. As on the criteria that you choose. Does on how to know if you’re taking things stated in the conclusion, “This article there have to be incontrovertible proof too far! One poster stated “If your cat’s has attempted to give the beginning that the suspect really existed? If the name is Diddles, you just might be a Ripperologist not only a sample of the answer is yes then Dr Stanley is not Ripperologist” whilst another wor- availability of some important books, an option as it has never been con- ryingly stated “When you remove a but also some guidance on where to clusively proved that he did exist. kidney from someone just to see if it

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 142 can be done in under 5 minutes, you just might be a... Wait! Am I the only one?”, luckily, they were joking. The If your cat’s name thread can be found h e r e The Ripper Podcasts provide is Diddles, you several episodes discussing Ripper researchers, how they came to the just might be a case, and what they are doing now. Take these three as examples, an epi- Ripperologist sode from April 2008 that features none other than special guest Stephen P. Ryder of Casebook fame, in discus- sion with amongst others How Brown, Andy Spalleck and Paul Begg. It can be found h e r e or on a similar theme, Philip Hutchinson provides an inter- esting overview of Ripper Tours h e r e Next issue we or perhaps Paul Begg’s interview from will have a look at May 2008 which is h e r e will tickle your Frances Coles fancy. The Casebook main site also con- tains several written interviews with Ripperologists, including Martin Fido, Deborah McDonald, Peter Underwood, Donald Rumbelow, Stewart Evans and Paul Begg, amongst others. Most such interviews can be found through the Casebook authors section h e r e.

From The Casebook Archives Ripperologists Scenes of Crime Robert Clack

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2E ll Junee n 2010St r e e t144 1938 he murder of Elizabeth Stride 11 dwellings. The corner shop in 1888 The second photo from 1938 is seems to be the hot topic of was William Nash’s Chandler’s Shop the corner of Fairclough Street to the Tconversation at the moment. and three doors to the right of this left and Christian Street on the right. Therefore, this issue’s ‘Scenes of Crime’ place is number 22 Ellen Street. It was The corner building, which included will show not one, but two photographs to here that Israel Schwartz moved on ‘The Fairclough Billiards and Social that have connections with the murder the evening Elizabeth Stride was mur- Club’, was earlier known as ‘The Bee of Elizabeth Stride, both taken in 1938, dered. The head you can see poking out Hive’ public house. Edward Spooner, fifty years after the events of 1888. the bottom of the doorway is a resident who lived at No. 26, was standing out- The first one is of Ellen Street, washing the front steps. Next door to side these premises around one o’clock which was at the southern end of number 22 was Lot Crowe, Carpenter. on the morning of the 30 September Berner Street, starting at Back Church This row of buildings have long disap- 1888 when he saw Louis Diemshitz Lane and finishing at Christian Street. peared; they appear on a 1941 aerial and another man run past him from The photograph here shows the south- survey photograph but not on a 1944 the direction of Berner Street shouting ern side of Ellen Street and was taken aerial photograph, so the likelihood is “Murder” and “Police.” They carried on from Berner Street. The alley on the they were probably destroyed during to Grove Street and ran back towards left by the side of the buildings is Ellen World War 2. Hadfield House now Spooner who stopped them and asked Place, a ‘T’ shaped alley, that contained covers the site. what the matter was. They told him a

Ell e n St r e e t 2010 Th e Be e Hi v e s i t e 2010

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 145 woman had been murdered and he fol- lowed then back to Dutfield’s Yard.. The landlord of ‘The Bee Hive’ in 1888 was Henry Muller. Just three doors to the north of the public house, at number 77 Christian Street, was ‘The German Working Men’s Club’ whose manager was Frederick Schirmer. ‘The Bee Hive’ and the surrounding buildings did not survive much longer after this photograph was taken. They do not appear in the 1941 aerial pho- tograph mentioned earlier and may have suffered the same fate as those in Ellen Street. Today Hogarth Court, a residential building belonging to the Southern Housing Group, covers the site of ‘The Bee Hive’.

Ma p o f t h e a r e a s h o w i n g b o t h l o c a t i o n s

Scenes of Crime Rob Clack Notes The directory used for this article was of 1887. An example of which is that the 1889 Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Montague John Druitt is listed in the London. The directory for 1889 would 1889 Directory. have been compiled towards the end of 1888 so would most likely be more accu- Acknowledgements rate than the 1888 Directory, which I would like to thank Debra J. Arif for would have been compiled by the end help with this article. Biography Robert Clack

obert Clack is from Surrey, 1901, published in Ripper Notes 24. England. He has been studying He has co-authored with Debra J. Arif, Rthe Whitechapel Murders for ‘A Rose By Any Other Name?’ a look at more than 25 years. At the 2009 Jack the life of Catherine Mylett aka ‘Rose’ the Ripper Conference he was pre- Mylett’ and he recently co-authored a sented with the Jeremy Beadle Award series of articles with Neil Bell on the for his outstanding contributions City of London Police Officers involved to Ripperology. He is the co-author in the Whitechapel Murders. For both of the book The London of Jack the these articles he was short-listed for Ripper: Then and Now, with Philip Ripperologist’s Beadle Prize for 2009, Hutchinson. He also is the author of eventually winning for his article ‘Death in the Lodging House’ a look with Debra. at the murder of Mary Ann Austin in

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2 June 2010 147 The End

THE CASEBOOK Examiner Issue 2T h J eune Be 2010 e H i v e148 1938